Childhood Divorce Linked to 61% Higher Stroke Risk in Older Adults, Study Finds
A groundbreaking study has revealed that experiencing parental divorce during childhood may significantly increase the risk of stroke in older adulthood.Published on January 22 in PLOS One, the research highlights a 61% higher stroke risk among seniors whose parents divorced before they turned 18. this association is comparable to the risks posed by diabetes or depression, two well-established stroke risk factors.
The study, led by Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD, director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto, analyzed data from the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The research focused on 13,205 older adults aged 65 and above who had not experienced childhood physical or sexual abuse.Among them, 13.9% reported parental divorce, and 7.3% had a stroke diagnosis.
“Surprisingly,parental divorce and stroke have not received a lot of research attention,although I published what I think was the first study looking at this in 2012,” Fuller-Thomson told Medscape Medical News. “With 2022 data,we again found that there was an association in both men and women as strong as having diabetes or being male.”
Key Findings
The study adjusted for traditional stroke risk factors, such as socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and comorbid conditions. Even after these adjustments, the odds of stroke were 1.61 times higher for those whose parents divorced compared to those who did not experience parental divorce.
| Risk Factor | Adjusted Odds ratio |
|————————–|————————-|
| Parental Divorce | 1.61 |
| Diabetes | 1.37 |
| Depression | 1.76 |
Potential Mechanisms
while the exact mechanisms remain unclear, researchers suggest that prolonged stress from parental divorce could dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Ada Tang, phd, associate dean of the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, explained, “We know that adverse childhood experiences like parental divorce could put someone at higher risk for diabetes, which then places them at higher risk for stroke.”
tang, who was not directly involved in the study, emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to patient care. “Stroke is such a complex condition.Patients come in because they’ve experienced a stroke, but it’s not just the moments that the stroke happens. The patient has a lifelong health and behavioral history that places them at risk.”
Implications for clinicians
The findings underscore the need for clinicians to consider childhood divorce as a potential risk factor for stroke. “We’re just seeing it as a potential marker that might be important,” Fuller-Thomson said. “We’re hoping that clinicians start thinking about this as a factor that has not been on their radar before.”
This study adds to the growing body of evidence linking adverse childhood experiences to long-term health outcomes. By identifying and addressing these early-life stressors, healthcare providers may be better equipped to mitigate stroke risk in older adults.
For more insights into the study,visit the original publication in PLOS One.
