{
  "id": 1358171,
  "title": "Stroke rates buck trends in young people amid missed signs and misdiagnosis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/stroke-rates-buck-trends-in-young-people-amid-missed-signs-and",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-16T21:53:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/increasing-incidence-of-strokes-in-young-people/106999484"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent years, stroke rates among young people have risen despite overall decreasing stroke rates in older populations. A review by the World Stroke Organization notes that the incidence of strokes in individuals under 55 has increased globally since the early 2000s. However, the reasons for this trend in younger demographics are not fully understood.\n\nBen Murphy, a 33-year-old who experienced his first stroke five years ago, attributes his delayed diagnosis to both his age and the pandemic. He spent over three days in various hospitals before being diagnosed with a stroke, despite finding a hole in his heart. This heart condition was not initially treated, leading to a second, severe stroke that left him with significant speech and movement impairments.\n\nData from the Stroke Foundation shows that more than 440,000 Australians were living with stroke in 2023, with one in four cases occurring in working-age individuals. Stroke Foundation CEO Lisa Murphy attributes this trend to a lack of prevention efforts targeting younger people, as risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation are often asymptomatic in this age group.\n\nNeurology professor Vincent Thijs from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health suggests that the increased incidence in young people is limited to ischemic strokes, which occur when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain. He also mentions a rise in cryptogenic strokes, which have no identifiable cause and may be linked to factors such as drug use, air pollution, longer work hours, and delayed pregnancies.\n\nA Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), a type of heart opening, has been associated with cryptogenic strokes in young people. Australian clinical trials indicate that up to 50% of young stroke cases with no identifiable cause may involve a PFO, though it is common in healthy individuals as well. Professor Thijs recommends more extensive screening for PFOs in young stroke survivors, as closure can help prevent second strokes if certain features are present.\n\nThe Gold Coast woman Ash De Cotta, who experienced a brain stem stroke at age 35, also highlights the importance of recognizing unusual symptoms. Despite her seemingly healthy lifestyle, she suffered severe neck pain and migraine with aura before her stroke. She spent six months in hospital after sustaining locked-in syndrome, a full-body paralysis caused by ischemic strokes. De Cotta emphasizes the need for tailored support and funding to cater to the unique needs of young stroke survivors in Australia.",
  "summary": "Experts warn the rate of stroke in young people is increasing, with one in four occurring in those aged under 65, despite the overall incidence going down.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}