Stroke is becoming more common among younger adults. What experts want them to know

Young women more commonly have strokes than young men. - eternalcreative/iStockphoto/Getty Images Most people don't worry about their cardiovascular health until they get older. But strokes, one type of cardiovascular disease, in young adults are steadily on the rise — and have nearly doubled in the last three decades, according to a new study.

"Stroke is a very devastating disease at any age. It is particularly devastating when it happens to younger people," said Dr. David Robinson, senior author of the study published Wednesday in the medical journal Neurology.

Researchers found that the rate of strokes among younger adults increased from 33.9 cases per 100,000 people in 1993 to 1994 to 62.2 cases per 100,000 people in 2020. The study also reported a slight increase in people surviving strokes, suggesting that more younger adults may be living with the long-term effects of a stroke.