Scientific Conferences & Meetings - American Heart Association

Dormir más y realizar actividad física pueden prevenir la diabetes tipo 2 en adolescentes

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Puntos destacados de la investigación:

Según un análisis de los datos de salud de Project Viva, un estudio a largo plazo sobre la salud de las mujeres y los niños en el este de Massachusetts, si los adolescentes sustituyeran 30 minutos de tiempo sedentario al día por dormir o realizar actividad física de moderada a intensa, podrían reducir su resistencia a la insulina y, por lo tanto, el riesgo de padecer diabetes tipo 2.
Sustituir 30 minutos de tiempo sedentario al día por dormir o realizar actividad física de moderada a intensa redujo una estimación de la resistencia a la insulina en casi el 15%.
Las iniciativas de salud pública para promover la actividad física o el sueño en lugar de las actividades sedentarias podrían ayudar a mantener la salud cardiometabólica entre los adolescentes de EE. UU.
Nota: El estudio que se presenta en este comunicado de prensa es un resumen de investigación. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association (Asociación American del Corazón) no son revisados por expertos, y los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como un artículo completo en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

Prohibida su divulgación hasta las 1:30 p. m., ET / 12:30 p. m., CT del viernes 20 de marzo del 2026

BOSTON, 20 de marzo del 2026 — Los adolescentes que sustituyeron solo media hora de comportamientos sedentarios, como sentarse en el sofá o pasar tiempo frente a la computadora, cada día por actividad física de moderada a intensa o dormir, pueden reducir su resistencia a la insulina, un factor clave para prevenir la diabetes tipo 2, según una investigación preliminar presentada en las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026 de la American Heart Association (sitio web en inglés). La reunión se lleva a cabo en Boston, del 17 al 20 de marzo del 2026, y ofrece los últimos avances científicos sobre salud poblacional, epidemiología, prevención, estilo de vida y salud cardiometabólica.

“Me sorprendió gratamente la fuerza de la asociación entre sustituir 30 minutos de sedentarismo por actividad física de moderada a intensa: una reducción del 15% en la resistencia a la insulina es un cambio bastante significativo”, afirma Soren Harnois-Leblanc, Ph.D., R.D., autora principal del estudio e investigadora posdoctoral en el Departamento de Medicina Poblacional del Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute y de la Facultad de Medicina de Harvard, ambos en Boston. “Nuestros hallazgos indican que pasar de comportamientos sedentarios a una actividad física de moderada a intensa o dormir, aunque solo sean unos minutos al día al principio, era beneficioso para la salud”.

Para evaluar el impacto de las actividades diarias habituales en el desarrollo de la resistencia a la insulina en los adolescentes, los investigadores examinaron los datos de salud de Project Viva, un estudio en curso respecto a la salud de niños nacidos en el período 1999-2002 y sus madres. La resistencia a la insulina se midió utilizando el modelo homeostático de evaluación de la resistencia a la insulina (HOMA-IR, por sus siglas en inglés), una prueba que estima la resistencia a la insulina basándose en los niveles de glucemia e insulina en sangre en ayunas. En la primera etapa de la adolescencia, con una edad promedio de casi 13 años, 802 participantes llevaron registros de sueño y usaron un acelerómetro (un sensor que cuantifica las aceleraciones del movimiento, a partir del cual los investigadores pueden deducir la intensidad y la duración de la actividad física) de forma constante durante entre 7 y 10 días, lo que proporcionó un desglose de las actividades de movimiento que realizaban durante un período típico de 24 horas.

Con diferencia, el mayor porcentaje del tiempo diario, el 48% u 11.5 horas al día, se dedicaba a actividades sedentarias. Algunos ejemplos de tiempo sedentario pueden ser estar sentado en clase, hacer las tareas, desplazarse a la escuela y el tiempo libre por la noche, que a menudo se dedica a mirar pantallas de dispositivos electrónicos o ver la televisión.

Otras actividades diarias, registradas durante un período de 24 horas, incluyeron dormir (un 33%), actividad física de baja intensidad (como caminar de manera casual, un 17%) y actividad física de intensidad de moderada a intensa (como correr o nadar, un 2%).

A continuación, los investigadores calcularon en qué medida un cambio de tan solo 30 minutos de actividad sedentaria a diversos tipos de actividad física o dormir podría haber influido en los niveles estimados de resistencia a la insulina en 394 de los participantes en el estudio.

Los hallazgos del estudio fueron los que se indican a continuación:

Los adolescentes que sustituyeron 30 minutos de sedentarismo por actividad física de moderada a intensa (como correr, nadar o jugar al baloncesto) pudieron reducir la resistencia a la insulina, o disminuir su puntuación HOMA IR, en casi un 15%.
Los participantes que cambiaron 30 minutos de tiempo sedentario por dormir pudieron reducir la resistencia a la insulina en casi un 5%.
Cambiar 30 minutos de tiempo sedentario por actividad física de baja intensidad (como caminar) no supuso un cambio significativo en los niveles de resistencia a la insulina.
Si bien la composición de la actividad se asoció a la resistencia a la insulina, no se asoció a los niveles de adiponectina (una hormona producida por las células grasas) ni con los niveles de glucosa en ayunas (una medida que se utiliza frecuentemente para diagnosticar la prediabetes y la diabetes tipo 2).

“Este estudio indica que los adolescentes pasan gran parte del día de forma sedentaria y solo una pequeña parte del tiempo realizan actividad física”, indicó el Dr. Kershaw Patel, voluntario de la American Heart Association y presidente electo del Consejo de Epidemiología y Prevención de la Asociación. “Curiosamente, los adolescentes que realizaban una actividad física de moderada a intensa en la primera etapa de la adolescencia mostraban señales de menor resistencia a la insulina más adelante. La conclusión principal es que llevar una vida activa desde una edad temprana puede marcar una gran diferencia para la salud a largo plazo”. Patel, que no participó en este estudio, es profesor adjunto de cardiología en el DeBakey Heart & Vascular Institute del Houston Methodist Hospital, en Houston.

Las métricas de las Life’s Essential 8 de la American Heart Association (sitio web en inglés) para una salud cardiovascular óptima incluyen estrategias para incorporar un estilo de vida saludable en la vida cotidiana. Por ejemplo, atenuar las luces antes de acostarse, crear una rutina nocturna que no incluya dispositivos electrónicos con pantallas y poner el teléfono en modo “no molestar” (o dejarlo fuera del dormitorio mientras se duerme) puede ayudar a mejorar la calidad y la cantidad del sueño. Integrar las actividades físicas en el tiempo social con amigos, para despejar la mente o reducir el estrés, puede hacer que las caminatas u otros ejercicios sean más atractivos que las actividades sedentarias.

Aunque en el estudio no se encontró una relación entre dedicar más tiempo a la actividad física ligera y una menor resistencia a la insulina, los investigadores instan a realizar más investigaciones sobre este tema.

“Dedicar más tiempo a la actividad física ligera puede ser beneficioso para prevenir las enfermedades cardiometabólicas en adultos. La actividad física ligera es un objetivo interesante porque probablemente sea más fácil de integrar en las rutinas diarias”, mencionó Harnois-Leblanc.

El presente estudio tuvo algunas limitaciones, entre ellas que solo se disponía de información sobre la resistencia a la insulina en etapas finales de la adolescencia del 49% de los participantes cuyos datos de acelerómetro se habían recopilado en la primera etapa de la adolescencia. Además, este análisis de datos y estudio de modelización predictiva no permite demostrar la relación causa-efecto entre las actividades diarias y la resistencia a la insulina.

Detalles, antecedentes y diseño del estudio:

El estudio incluyó información sobre la salud de 802 participantes, de entre 12 y 17 años, nacidos entre los años 1999 y 2002 en el este de Massachusetts, y que participaban en Project Viva, un estudio en curso destinado a mejorar la salud de los niños y sus madres.
El 52% de los participantes era mujer, el 64% se identificaba como blanco no hispano, el 15% se identificaba como negro no hispano y el 9% se identificaba como hispano.
Participantes en la primera etapa de la adolescencia (edad promedio de 12.9 años) llevaron un acelerómetro en la muñeca durante un período de entre 7 y 10 días consecutivos y completaron registros de sueño, lo que permitió a los investigadores calcular la cantidad promedio de minutos de cada período de 24 horas que se dedicaban a dormir frente al tiempo sedentario frente a la actividad física ligera frente a la actividad física de moderada a intensa.
En las etapas finales de la adolescencia (edad promedio de 17.5 años), se realizaron análisis de sangre en ayunas a 394 participantes con datos de acelerómetros para calcular los niveles de adiponectina (una hormona producida por las células grasas), glucosa (azúcar) e insulina. Se utilizaron los niveles de glucosa e insulina en ayunas para calcular el HOMA-IR, con el fin de ayudar a estimar el riesgo de progresar a diabetes tipo 2.
Los investigadores utilizaron un método estadístico denominado análisis de datos composicionales para examinar la distribución de cuatro tipos de actividades físicas en un período de 24 horas. A continuación, utilizaron modelos para estimar cómo las sustituciones de 30 minutos de un comportamiento por otro podrían influir en los resultados de las pruebas en las etapas finales de la adolescencia. Los resultados se ajustaron según la edad, el sexo, la estación del año en la que los participantes llevaron el acelerómetro, el nivel educativo de la madre y los ingresos familiares.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el resumen.

Las afirmaciones y conclusiones de los estudios que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association/American Stroke Association son exclusivas de los autores de estos estudios y no constituyen necesariamente la política ni la posición de la Asociación. La Asociación no ofrece ninguna declaración ni garantía de ningún tipo en cuanto a su exactitud o confiabilidad. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la Asociación no son revisados por expertos, sino que los paneles de revisión independientes los seleccionan y consideran en función del potencial que tengan de ser un aporte a la diversidad de temas y opiniones científicos analizados en la reunión. Los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como un artículo completo en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

La Asociación recibe más de un 85% de sus ingresos de fuentes que no son empresas. Estas fuentes incluyen contribuciones de personas particulares, fundaciones y patrimonios, así como ganancias por inversiones e ingresos por la venta de nuestros materiales informativos. Las empresas (incluidas las farmacéuticas, los fabricantes de dispositivos y otras compañías) también realizan donaciones a la Asociación. La Asociación tiene políticas estrictas para evitar que las donaciones influyan en el contenido científico y en las posturas de sus políticas. La información financiera general está disponible aquí (sitio web en inglés).

Recursos adicionales:

Una entrevista en video con el experto voluntario de la American Heart Association, el Dr. Antonio Cabrera, y multimedia adicional están disponibles en la columna derecha del enlace de publicación.
comunicado de prensa en inglés
Después del viernes 20 de marzo del 2026, consulte el Resumen oral 71 en el Planificador de Programa En Línea las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026 (sitio web en inglés).
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: El tiempo excesivo frente a la pantalla entre los jóvenes puede plantear riesgos para la salud cardíaca (sitio web en inglés) (agosto del 2025)
Información de salud de la American Heart Association: Recomendaciones de la American Heart Association respecto de la actividad física en adultos y niños (sitio web en inglés) (enero del 2024)
Información de salud de la American Heart Association: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar a mi hijo para que realice más actividad física? (sitio web en inglés) (octubre del 2023)
Declaración científica de la American Heart Association: El acondicionamiento cardiorrespiratorio en los jóvenes: un importante indicador de salud (sitio web en inglés) (agosto del 2020)
Si desea obtener más noticias sobre las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026, síganos en X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

Las Sesiones Científicas EPI|LIFESTYLE de la American Heart Association es la reunión más importante del mundo dedicada a los últimos avances en ciencia de la población. La reunión se realiza del martes 17 al viernes 20 de marzo del 2026 en Boston. El objetivo principal de la reunión es promover el desarrollo y la aplicación de la ciencia traslacional y de la población para prevenir enfermedades cardíacas y ataques o derrames cerebrales, y fomentar la salud cardiovascular. Las sesiones se centran en los factores de riesgo, la obesidad, la nutrición, la actividad física, la genética, el metabolismo, los biomarcadores, la enfermedad subclínica, la enfermedad clínica, las poblaciones saludables, la salud global y los ensayos clínicos orientados a la prevención. Los Consejos de Epidemiología y Prevención y de Estilo de Vida y Salud Cardiometabólica (Estilo de vida) planificaron conjuntamente las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026. Siga la conferencia en X en #EPILifestyle26.

Acerca de la American Heart Association

La American Heart Association es una fuerza incansable para un mundo de vidas más largas y saludables. La organización ha sido una fuente líder de información sobre salud durante más de cien años y su objetivo es garantizar la equidad en la salud en todas las comunidades. Con el apoyo de más de 35 millones de voluntarios en todo el mundo, financiamos investigaciones vanguardistas, defendemos la salud pública y proporcionamos recursos fundamentales para salvar y mejorar vidas afectadas por enfermedades cardiovasculares y ataques o derrames cerebrales. Trabajamos incansablemente para hacer avanzar la salud y transformar vidas cada día mediante el impulso de avances y la implementación de soluciones comprobadas en las áreas de ciencia, políticas y cuidados. Comuníquese con nosotros en heart.org (sitio web en inglés), Facebook o X, o llame al 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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Para consultas de los medios de comunicación y conocer el punto de vista de los expertos de la AHA:

Comunicaciones y Relaciones con los Medios de la AHA en Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Kelsey Beveridge: Kelsey.Beveridge@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

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More sleep and physical activity may prevent Type 2 diabetes in teens

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

If adolescents replaced 30 minutes of sedentary time each day with sleep or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, it may reduce their insulin resistance and thus reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of health data from Project Viva, a long-term study of the health of women and children in Eastern Massachusetts.
Substituting 30 minutes per day of sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduced a measurement of insulin resistance by nearly 15%.
Public health initiatives to promote physical activity or sleep rather than sedentary activities could help preserve cardiometabolic health among teens in the U.S.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT, Friday, March 20, 2026

Boston, March 20, 2026 — Adolescents who replaced just half an hour of sedentary behaviors, such as sitting on the couch or spending time at the computer, each day for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or sleep may lower their insulin resistance, a key factor in preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting is in Boston, March 17-20, 2026, and offers the latest epidemiological science on prevention, lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.

“I was happily surprised with the strength of the association of replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity—a 15% lower insulin resistance is quite a big change,” said Soren Harnois-Leblanc, Ph.D., R.D., lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the department of population medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston. “Our findings mean that switching from sedentary behaviors to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or sleep, even if it is only a few minutes per day to start, was beneficial for health.”

To assess the impact of typical daily activities on the development of insulin resistance in teenagers, investigators examined health data from Project Viva, an ongoing health study of children born between 1999-2002 and their mothers. Insulin resistance was measured using Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), a test that estimates insulin resistance based on fasting blood glucose and insulin levels. In early adolescence, at an average of nearly 13 years old, 802 participants kept sleep logs and wore an accelerometer (a sensor that quantifies movement accelerations, from which researchers can derive the intensity and duration of physical activity) constantly for 7-10 days, providing a breakdown of the movement activities they engaged in over a typical 24 hours.

By far, the highest percentage of daily time, 48% or 11.5 hours per day, was spent in sedentary activities. Examples of sedentary time may include sitting in class, doing homework, commuting and downtime in the evening, which often comes with screen time on an electronic device or watching TV.

Other daily activities, reported over a 24-hour period, included sleep (33%), low-intensity physical activity (such as casual walking, 17%), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (such as running, swimming or playing basketball, 2%).

The researchers then calculated how much a shift of just 30 minutes from sedentary activity to various types of physical activity or sleep could have impacted estimated insulin resistance levels in 394 of the study participants.

Among the study findings:

Adolescents who replaced 30 minutes of sedentary time with moderate-vigorous physical activity could lower a measurement of insulin resistance, or lowering their HOMA IR score, by nearly 15%;
Participants who exchanged 30 minutes of sedentary time with sleep could lower insulin resistance by nearly 5%;
Shifting 30 minutes of sedentary time to low-intensity physical activity did not have a significant change in insulin resistance levels.
While activity composition was associated with insulin resistance, it was not associated with levels of adiponectin (a hormone produced by fat cells) or fasting glucose levels (a measure used to diagnose prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes).

“This study shows that young adolescents spend a lot of their day being sedentary and only a small amount of time being physically active,” said Kershaw Patel, M.D., an American Heart Association volunteer and chair elect of the Association’s Council on Epidemiology and Prevention. “Interestingly, teens who had more moderate to vigorous physical activity early in adolescence showed signs of lower insulin resistance later on. The big takeaway is being active early in life can really make a difference for long‑term health.” Patel, who was not involved in this study, is an assistant professor of cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital’s DeBakey Heart & Vascular Institute in Houston.

The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 metrics for optimal cardiovascular health includes strategies for incorporating healthy lifestyle into daily life. For example, dimming lights before bedtime, creating a nighttime routine that doesn’t include electronic devices with screens and putting the phone on “do not disturb” (or leaving it outside the bedroom while sleeping) can help to improve quality and quantity of sleep. Integrating physical activities with social time with friends, to clear your mind or reduce stress can make hikes or other exercise more appealing than sedentary activities.

While the study did not find an association between more time spent in light physical activity and lower insulin resistance, the investigators urge additional research on this topic.

“More time spent in light physical activity may be beneficial to prevent cardiometabolic disease in adults. Light physical activity is an interesting target because it is likely easier to integrate into everyday routines,” said Harnois-Leblanc.

The current study had some limitations, including that insulin resistance information in late adolescence was available for only 49% of participants who had accelerometer data collected in early adolescence. Additionally, cause-and-effect for daily activities and insulin resistance cannot be proven by this data analysis.

Study details, background and design:

The study included health information for 802 participants, ages 12-17, who were born between 1999-2002 in Eastern Massachusetts, and who were enrolled in Project Viva, an ongoing study aimed at improving the health of children and their mothers.
52% of participants were female, 64% were self-identified as non-Hispanic white, 15% self-identified as non-Hispanic Black and 9% self-identified as Hispanic.
Participants in early adolescence (median age of 12.9 years) wore a wrist accelerometer for 7-10 consecutive days and completed sleep logs, allowing researchers to calculate the average number of minutes in each 24-hour period were spent sleeping vs. sedentary time vs. light physical activity vs. moderate to vigorous physical activity.
In late adolescence (median age of 17.5 years), 394 participants with accelerometer data had fasting blood level tests collected to measure levels of adiponectin (a hormone produced by fat cells), glucose (sugar) and insulin. Fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels were used to calculate HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance that informs on the risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes.
Investigators used a statistical method called compositional data analysis to examine the distribution of 4 types of physical activities within a 24-hour period. They then used modeling to estimate how 30-minute substitutions from one behavior to another could affect test results in later adolescence. Results were adjusted for age, sex, the season in which the participants wore the accelerometer, mother’s educational level and family income.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

A video interview with American Heart Association volunteer expert, Dr. Antonio Cabrera, and additional multimedia are available on the right column of the release link.
Spanish news release
After Friday, March 20, 2026, view Oral Abstract 71 in the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 Online Program Planner.
American Heart Association news release: Excessive screen time among youth may pose heart health risks (Aug. 2025)
American Heart Association health information: American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids (Jan. 2024)
American Heart Association health information: How Can I Help My Child Be More Physically Active? (Oct. 2023)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Youth: An Important Marker of Health (Aug. 2020)
For more news from AHA EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

The American Heart Association’s EPI|LIFESTYLE Scientific Sessions is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science. The meeting is Tuesday-Friday, March 17-20, 2026, in Boston. The primary goal of the meeting is to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and foster cardiovascular health. The sessions focus on risk factors, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, genetics, metabolism, biomarkers, subclinical disease, clinical disease, healthy populations, global health and prevention-oriented clinical trials. The Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention and Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) jointly planned the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. Follow the conference on X at #EPILifestyle26.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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For Media Inquiries and AHA Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Kelsey Beveridge: Kelsey.Beveridge@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Higher blood pressure during young adulthood linked to heart & kidney disease after age 40

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

A study of nearly 300 thousand adults in South Korea found that individuals with higher blood pressure (≥120 mm Hg/80 mm Hg) for up to 10 years during young adulthood (ages 30 and 40 were more likely to develop heart disease and kidney disease after age 40.
Having a systolic (top number) blood pressure that remained about 10 mm Hg higher than peers for about 10 years was linked to a 27% higher risk of heart disease and a 22% higher risk of kidney disease.
Maintaining optimal blood pressure (<120 mm Hg/80 mm Hg) is important at every age and life stage, and it is most beneficial to protect future heart and kidney health.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 11:30 a.m. ET/10:30 a.m. CT, Friday, March 20, 2026

BOSTON, March 20, 2026 — Higher blood pressure during young adulthood is likely linked to a higher risk of heart disease and kidney disease later in life, reinforcing the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure at younger ages, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting is in Boston, March 17-20, and offers the latest epidemiological science on prevention, lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.

“Young adults often have a very low predicted 10-year risk of heart disease, even when they have elevated or high blood pressure (a systolic blood pressure measure of 120 mm Hg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure measure of 80 mm Hg or higher),” said Hokyou Lee, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. “Our study’s findings show that blood pressure levels in early adulthood are important even if short-term risk appears low. Long-term exposure to higher blood pressure from early life may accumulate damage over time, increasing the risk of heart and kidney disease in midlife.”

According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, nearly half of U.S. adults are living with high blood pressure. It is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in the U.S. and worldwide, and it’s the most common and most modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Maintaining healthy blood pressure is critical to preventing or reducing the risk of heart disease, a major cardiac event or a stroke.

In this study, the researchers reviewed medical records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Their analysis found:

Adults who had elevated or high blood pressure that stayed higher from age 30 to 40 had a higher risk of heart disease, stroke or kidney disease in midlife, after age 40.
Having a systolic (top number) blood pressure reading of about 10 mm Hg higher than peers for about 10 years was linked to a 27% higher risk of heart disease and a 22% higher risk of kidney disease.
Participants with a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) about 5 mm Hg higher than their peers for about 10 years were linked to a 20% higher risk of heart disease and a 16% higher risk of kidney disease.
Compared with people in the group with the lowest 20% of cumulative blood pressure levels during young adulthood, those in the highest 20% of cumulative blood pressure levels were more likely to develop heart or kidney disease in midlife:
- People in the highest cumulative systolic blood pressure group were about 3.5 times more likely to develop heart conditions than those in the lowest cumulative systolic blood pressure group.
- The risk of kidney disease was about 3 times higher among people with the highest cumulative systolic blood pressure.
Results in this analysis were similar for men and women.

“Maintaining optimal blood pressure is a concern for every individual, at every age,” Lee said. “Early prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, if needed, are investments in future heart and kidney health. Timely treatment of elevated blood pressure is essential to reduce the effects of years of exposure, which underscores the importance of monitoring and managing blood pressure as soon as a patient has elevated blood pressure levels.”

The American Heart Association's 2025 High Blood Pressure Guideline recommends treatment of stage 1 hypertension (after 3-6 months of lifestyle modification) in adults with low predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease.

“This study from Korea emphasizes the risk from high blood pressure begins at an early age and early in the course,” said Daniel W. Jones, M.D., M.A.C.P., FAHA, an American Heart Association volunteer expert and chair of the writing committee for the Association’s Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. “The opportunity in this study to evaluate cumulative blood pressure over several years was important in understanding that risk. The study should encourage the design of randomized clinical trials to document that early treatment of high blood pressure in young adults is effective at reducing risk for cardiovascular and kidney disease.” Jones, who was not involved in this study, is a past volunteer president of the Association and dean and professor emeritus of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, Mississippi.

Study details, background and design:

The analysis included health information for 291,887 adults from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, who were 30 years old in 2002-2004 and received routine health screenings between age 30 (2002-2004) and 40 (2012-2014).
Participants included in the analysis had no prior history of heart or kidney disease before age 40; 76.3% were men.
The analysis included those who had three or more health examination records with blood pressure measurements taken by health care professionals at the following time periods: at age 30 (2002-2004); at age 40 (2012-2014); and one or more blood pressure measurements taken in between those periods. The median number of blood pressure measurements for each participant was eight.
Each participant’s cumulative blood pressure levels from age 30 to 40 were calculated to account for both how high it was and how long it stayed elevated.
Participants were followed for about 10 years after age 40, during which development of heart or kidney disease was identified through national health service records. In addition, diagnosis of chronic kidney disease was confirmed by laboratory tests conducted during the follow-up period.
Deaths from heart or kidney disease after age 40 were identified in the national death records.
Major health and lifestyle factors, such as sex, income, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity and key health measures, including blood sugar and cholesterol levels, were factored into the analysis.

An important note about the study is that participants received care through the National Health Insurance System in South Korea, a universal health care system for all of its citizens with government-set, standardized pricing for all health care, screening, treatments and medications.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

A video interview with Daniel W. Jones, M.D., M.A.C.P., FAHA and other multimedia are available on the right column of the release link.
After March 20, view abstract 61 in the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 Online Program Planner
American Heart Association news release: Millions are unaware of heart risks that don’t start in the heart (Feb. 2026)
American Heart Association Guideline news release: New high blood pressure guideline emphasizes prevention, early treatment to reduce CVD risk (Aug. 2025)
American Heart Association health information: What is high blood pressure?
American Heart Association health information: Find high blood pressure tools and resources
For more news from EPI|LIFESTYLE 2026 Scientific Sessions, follow us on X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

The American Heart Association’s EPI|LIFESTYLE Scientific Sessions is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science. The meeting is Tuesday-Friday, March 17-20, 2026, in Boston. The primary goal of the meeting is to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and foster cardiovascular health. The sessions focus on risk factors, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, genetics, metabolism, biomarkers, subclinical disease, clinical disease, healthy populations, global health and prevention-oriented clinical trials. The Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention and Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) jointly planned the EPI|Lifestyle 2026 Scientific Sessions. Follow the conference on X at #EPILifestyle26.

About the American Heart Association

###

For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Michelle Kirkwood: Michelle.Kirkwood@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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More activity and less sitting may reduce risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

In a study including nearly 500 pregnant women in three U.S. cities from 2020-2025, sedentary behavior, sleep and physical activity across a 7-day, 24-hour timeframe during each trimester were measured. The amount of time spent sitting and doing light physical activity were found to be the main predictors of developing blood pressure-related conditions (hypertensive disorders) of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Women who limited their sedentary time to about eight hours a day and engaged in at least seven hours of light physical activity, and on average, 22 minutes of higher intensity activity and nine hours of sleep daily had a 30% lower risk of developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
The researchers say more research is needed to test whether helping pregnant women sit less and move more throughout the day can reduce their risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT, Thursday, March 19, 2026

BOSTON, March 19, 2026 — During pregnancy, women can reduce their risk of developing a hypertensive disorder by nearly 30% by limiting sedentary time to no more than eight hours a day and increasing light, everyday physical activity to at least seven hours a day, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting is in Boston, March 17-20, 2026, and offers the latest science on population-based health, epidemiology, prevention, lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.

“Our study suggests that in the real world, where daily routines vary widely, it may actually be the balance of sitting time and light intensity movement across the entire day that matters most,” said lead study author Kara Whitaker, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA, an associate professor in the department of health, sport and human physiology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. “This doesn’t mean exercise isn’t beneficial—rather, that when it comes to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, everyday movement and limiting long periods of sitting may play a bigger role than we previously understood.”

According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure during pregnancy and other adverse pregnancy conditions are associated with an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. While physical activity and sleep patterns are related to cardiovascular disease risk, there has not been a lot of research on how 24-hour activity patterns during pregnancy can impact the risk of hypertension.

High blood pressure develops in up to 5%-10% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of fetal and maternal disease and death. This study aimed to identify optimal 24-hour behavioral and activity patterns across pregnancy trimesters that are associated with the lowest risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The study results found:

Of the 470 study participants, 18.6% of the women developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (gestational hypertension or preeclampsia).
Sedentary behaviors and light physical activity were the strongest predictors of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy risk across all trimesters of pregnancy.
The lowest-risk daily pattern of activity included about six hours of sitting, nearly eight hours of light physical activity, four minutes of higher‑intensity activity (traditional exercise) and roughly 10 hours of time spent resting. This daily pattern was linked to an 8% chance of having hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, compared to 16.9% observed among those with a typical daily pattern.
Compared to typical daily movement patterns, the optimal combination of activity reduced a woman’s risk of high blood pressure-related conditions during pregnancy by more than half. When compared to the least healthy daily movement patterns measured in the study, the optimal activity combination reduced risk by nearly 80%.
The risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy rose for those who sat more than 10 hours per day or if there was less than five hours per day of light activity.
These findings highlight sitting time and light physical activity as key modifiable behaviors that may help prevent the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which, in turn, may have important implications for women’s lifelong heart health.

“Both sedentary behavior and hypertension in pregnancy are increasingly common, and in non-pregnant individuals we know that physical activity is associated with reductions in blood pressure,” said Natalie A. Bello, M.D., M.P.H., an American Heart Association volunteer expert and member of the writing groups for AHA’s scientific statement, Prevention and Treatment of Maternal Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum, as well as Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. “The researchers extend this to the pregnant population where nearly 20% of participants developed a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. They saw incremental associations between more physical activity and lower risk of developing preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. It remains to be seen whether this association is causal, and future studies designed to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in pregnancy are needed.” Bello, who was not involved with this study, is an associate professor of cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and director of women’s cardiovascular health & cardiology at Atria Health and Research Institute, both in Los Angeles.

The study results align with the American Heart Association’s Life Essential 8 for Pregnancy recommendations, which encourage women to find ways to move throughout the day, get adequate sleep, eat healthy foods, manage cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as monitor blood pressure.

“These findings have the potential to shift how we think about physical activity and sleep during pregnancy,” said Whitaker. “Right now, there are no clear, quantitative guidelines for how much sitting or light intensity movement is healthiest during pregnancy, and our results provide early evidence that could help shape those recommendations in the future. Ultimately, this line of research could give patients and clinicians more practical, achievable ways to support healthier pregnancies.”

Study details, background and design:

The study included 470 women, ages 18 to 45 years; 83% self-reported as non-Hispanic white. The participants were enrolled in the study from 2021 to 2024 at three health care centers in Iowa, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The women were all in their first trimester of pregnancy (prior to 13 weeks gestation) at enrollment, and they were followed until 6 weeks after delivery.
Each study participant wore two monitors for 24 hours for seven consecutive days during each trimester of their pregnancy to measure sedentary behavior, sleep and the 24-hour activity cycle (composition of sedentary behavior, physical activity and sleep). This data was analyzed with health records related to hypertensive disorders and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Activity was measured using a small, wearable monitor that tracked the amount of time spent lying down, sitting, standing and walking. A watch assessed the participants’ sleep duration.
The rates of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were noted from the study participants’ medical records, and statistical models were used to predict the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy based on data from the 24-hour movement behaviors and calculated by trimester.

The study had several limitations, including that the study participants were mostly white and tended to have higher education and income levels, so the results may not reflect the experiences of people in other population groups. In addition, because the number of cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was relatively small, study researchers were not able to analyze rates of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension separately, and these two medical conditions may have different relationships with physical activity. The authors note that studies with more participants and people from other population groups are needed to confirm the findings and to better understand how specific physical activity patterns may correlate to different hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link.
After March 19, view abstract 27 in the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 Online Program Planner.
AHA news release: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease negatively impact health during, after pregnancy (Oct. 2025)
AHA health initiative: Sedentary Behavior and Light-Intensity Physical Activity During Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Health: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association (April 2025)
AHA news release: Personalized screening early in pregnancy may improve preeclampsia detection (May 2024)
AHA scientific statement: Opportunities in the Postpartum Period to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association (Feb. 2024)
AHA scientific statement: Optimizing Prepregnancy Cardiovascular Health to Improve Outcomes in Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals and Offspring: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (Feb. 2023)
AHA scientific statement: Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Cardiovascular Risk: Unique Opportunities for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (April 2021)
For more news from AHA EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

The American Heart Association’s EPI|LIFESTYLE Scientific Sessions is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science. The meeting is Tuesday-Friday, March 17-20, 2026, in Boston. The primary goal of the meeting is to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and foster cardiovascular health. The sessions focus on risk factors, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, genetics, metabolism, biomarkers, subclinical disease, clinical disease, healthy populations, global health and prevention-oriented clinical trials. The Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention and Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) jointly planned the EPI|Lifestyle 2026 Scientific Sessions. Follow the conference on X at #EPILifestyle26.

About the American Heart Association

###

For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Kelsey Beveridge: Kelsey.Beveridge@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

]]>

El riesgo de diabetes tipo 2 varió ampliamente entre los adultos de entre 18 y 40 años con prediabetes

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Aspectos destacados de la investigación:

Los adultos con prediabetes a principios de los 30 años que tenían niveles altos de glucemia en ayunas, además de otros factores de riesgo como obesidad, colesterol alto o presión arterial alta, tenían el riesgo más alto de desarrollar diabetes tipo 2.
Las personas que presentaban niveles altos de glucosa en ayunas (100-125 mg/dl) y cumplían con los requisitos para recibir un tratamiento con un medicamento agonista del péptido similar al glucagón de tipo 1 (GLP-1RA, por sus siglas en inglés) tenían más probabilidades de experimentar una progresión de la prediabetes a la diabetes tipo 2 en un plazo de cinco años.
El uso de los resultados de los análisis de sangre y los factores de riesgo para identificar a los adultos jóvenes con prediabetes que tienen mayor riesgo de experimentar una progresión a diabetes tipo 2 puede ayudar a acelerar el tratamiento para aquellas personas que se beneficiarían de intervenciones intensivas en el estilo de vida y, en algunos casos, de un tratamiento con medicamentos de pérdida de peso.
Nota: El estudio que se presenta en este comunicado de prensa es un resumen de investigación. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association (Asociación Americana del Corazón) no son revisados por expertos, y los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como un artículo completo en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

Prohibida su publicación hasta las 4:00 p.m., ET /3:00 p.m., CT, del martes 17 de marzo del 2026

Este comunicado de prensa refleja los datos actualizados proporcionados por el grupo de investigación y se alinea con su presentación del póster en EPI.

BOSTON, 17 de marzo del 2026 — Un enfoque único para todos en el tratamiento de la prediabetes puede pasar por alto la oportunidad de implementar un enfoque de prevención temprano, personalizado y más intensivo para las personas con el riesgo más alto para desarrollar diabetes tipo 2, según la investigación preliminar presentada en las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026 (sitio web en inglés) de la American Heart Association. La reunión se lleva a cabo en Boston, del 17 al 20 de marzo del 2026, y ofrece los últimos avances científicos sobre ciencia epidemiológica de prevención, estilo de vida y salud cardiometabólica.

Los diagnósticos de diabetes tipo 2 y prediabetes están aumentando en adultos de 40 años y menos. Las complicaciones de la diabetes tipo 2 incluyen enfermedades cardíacas, enfermedad renal y ataque o derrame cerebral, además de que puede dañar los nervios del cerebro, los ojos y los pies.

“Sabemos que, en conjunto, las personas con prediabetes tienen un mayor riesgo de experimentar una progresión a diabetes tipo 2 y sus complicaciones. La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) de los Estados Unidos aprobó el tratamiento con los nuevos medicamentos de pérdida de peso, llamados agonistas del receptor de GLP-1 (GLP-1RA), para pacientes seleccionados que cumplan con ciertos criterios. Usamos estos criterios existentes para estimar el riesgo de desarrollar diabetes tipo 2 en adultos jóvenes con niveles de glucosa en el rango de la prediabetes”, explicó Mary Rooney, Ph.D., M.P.H., autora principal del estudio y profesora asistente de investigación en el Departamento de Epidemiología de la Facultad de Salud Pública Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health en Baltimore.

Algunos medicamentos GLP-1RA están aprobados por la FDA para personas con diabetes tipo 2 y otros para facilitar la pérdida de peso cuando la dieta y el ejercicio no fueron efectivos. Los criterios de elegibilidad para recetar medicamentos GLP-1RA para la pérdida de peso incluyen obesidad (índice de masa corporal de 30 kg/m² o más), o sobrepeso (índice de masa corporal de 27 kg/m²), además de al menos una afección relacionada, como presión arterial alta o colesterol alto. Los medicamentos GLP-1RA no están aprobados por la FDA para la prevención de la diabetes tipo 2 en personas con prediabetes.

Para su análisis, los investigadores estimaron el riesgo de 5 años de progresión de prediabetes a diabetes tipo 2 en 662 adultos jóvenes. Se realizó un seguimiento a los participantes durante un promedio de siete años en uno de los tres estudios realizados en EE. UU. que se centraron en la salud y el riesgo de enfermedades cardíacas de los adultos jóvenes.

En el análisis, se reveló lo siguiente:

El riesgo de progresión de la prediabetes a la diabetes tipo 2 a 5 años fue del 7.5% en general.
El riesgo aumentó al 10.9% en las personas que cumplían con los criterios para recibir tratamiento con un medicamento GLP-1RA para la pérdida de peso.
Además, el riesgo a 5 años aumentó en un 15.1% para las personas con niveles más altos de glucosa en ayunas (de 110 a 125 mg/dl) y en un 24.8% para las personas con niveles altos de glucosa en ayunas y que cumplían con los criterios para recibir tratamiento con un medicamento GLP-1RA.

“Los enfoques actuales para la prevención de la diabetes tipo 2 siguen un modelo único para todos. Nuestros resultados señalan que algunas personas con prediabetes tienen un mayor riesgo de experimentar una progresión a diabetes tipo 2. Estos son los pacientes que pueden beneficiarse de un tratamiento más dirigido e intensivo que otros”, afirmó Rooney.

Según la American Heart Association (sitio web en inglés), los cambios en el estilo de vida, como reducir de peso, alimentarse de forma saludable y realizar actividad física moderada de forma regular, pueden reducir la progresión de la prediabetes a diabetes tipo 2, ayudar a controlar la diabetes tipo 2 y mitigar otros factores de riesgo como la presión arterial alta, además de los ataques cardíacos y los ataques o derrames cerebrales.

En el estudio, también se plantea la posibilidad de que los medicamentos GLP-1RA podrían ser beneficiosos para prevenir la progresión a diabetes tipo 2 en personas con prediabetes que cumplan con las mediciones del índice de masa corporal (IMC) para sobrepeso u obesidad y otras afecciones de salud relacionadas con el peso.

“Sin embargo, aún no se conoce la relación costo-eficacia de los medicamentos GLP-1RA para la prevención de la diabetes tipo 2, en particular en los subgrupos con el riesgo más alto para diabetes tipo 2”, comentó Rooney.

"Los diferentes grupos de personas con diabetes tipo 2 pueden necesitar estrategias de prevención diferentes según su nivel de riesgo”, afirmó el Dr. Joshua J. Joseph, M.P.H., FAHA, ASCI, un experto voluntario de la American Heart Association y presidente del Comité de Diabetes y Estilo de Vida para el Consejo de Estilo de Vida y Salud Cardiometabólica de la Asociación. “El próximo paso sería estudiar a un grupo de personas más grande y diverso para que podamos comprender mejor cómo factores como el lugar de residencia, ya sea rural o urbano, los antecedentes y la comunidad influyen en el riesgo. Estos hallazgos respaldan la idea de que actuar temprano, antes de que la diabetes tipo 2 y las afecciones relacionadas del corazón y los riñones se vuelvan más graves, mediante cambios saludables en el estilo de vida y, cuando sea necesario, medicamentos para reducir el riesgo, de acuerdo con el marco del síndrome metabólico-renal-cardiovascular, que da prioridad a la intervención temprana”. Joseph, que no estuvo involucrado en este estudio, es profesor asociado de medicina interna y el profesor titular de investigación en medicina interna del The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center en Columbus, Ohio.

Detalles, antecedentes o diseño del estudio:

En el estudio, se incluyeron 662 adultos jóvenes de tres estudios en los EE. UU.: el estudio de salud de la comunidad hispana/estudio de latinos, el estudio Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study y el estudio Framingham Heart Study Third Generation.
Entre los participantes se incluyeron adultos de entre los 18 y los 40 años (edad media de 32 años) con prediabetes. El 33% de todos los participantes fueron mujeres; el 47% se autoidentificó como hispano o latino; el 45% se autoidentificó como persona de raza blanca no hispana, y el 7% se autoidentificó como persona de raza negra no hispana.
Se midió la información de salud, incluidos los niveles de glucosa en ayunas, el peso, el índice de masa corporal, los niveles de lípidos y la presión arterial, durante las consultas del estudio entre 1985 y el 2011, todas antes de la primera aprobación de la FDA de los medicamentos GLP-1RA para la pérdida de peso.
Durante un seguimiento promedio de alrededor de siete años, los investigadores analizaron cómo los factores de riesgo influían en el riesgo de 5 años de progresar de prediabetes a diabetes tipo 2.

Los hallazgos del estudio son limitados, ya que no estaban disponibles los análisis de sangre de hemoglobina A1c de los participantes, que miden los niveles de azúcar en sangre durante los últimos 2 a 3 meses. La hemoglobina A1c también se puede usar para definir la prediabetes. Solo se incluyeron pruebas de glucosa en ayunas en el análisis.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el resumen.

Recursos adicionales:

Una entrevista en video con el experto voluntario de la American Heart Association, el Dr. Antonio Cabrera, y multimedia adicional están disponibles en la columna derecha del enlace de publicación.
Comunicado de prensa en inglés
Después del martes 17 de marzo, consulte el resumen MPTU11 en el Planificador de Programa En Línea (sitio web en inglés) de las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026.
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Millones no saben de los riesgos cardíacos que no empiezan en el corazón (febrero del 2026).
Comunicado de prensa de declaración científica de la American Heart Association: Se necesitan más recursos y colaboración para apoyar la prevención y el tratamiento de la obesidad (enero del 2026).
Información de salud de la American Heart Association: Acerca de la prediabetes (abril del 2024) (sitio web en inglés).
Comunicado de prensa de recomendación presidencial de la American Heart Association: Redefinición del riesgo, la prevención y control de las enfermedades cardíacas (octubre del 2023).
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Cambios en el estilo de vida, medicamentos eficaces para prevenir o retrasar la diabetes tipo 2; sin cambios en las ECV (mayo del 2022) (sitio web en inglés).
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Actualizado: Prediabetes vinculada a un mayor riesgo de ataque cardíaco en adultos jóvenes (mayo del 2022).
Declaración científica de la American Heart Association: Manejo integral de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular para adultos con diabetes tipo 2: Una declaración científica de la American Heart Association (enero del 2022) (sitio web en inglés).
Si desea obtener más noticias sobre las Sesiones Científicas EPI|Lifestyle del 2026, síganos en X @HeartNews (sitio web en inglés), #EPILifestyle26.

###

Acerca de la American Heart Association

Para consultas con los medios de comunicación de la American Heart Association: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Kelsey Beveridge: Kelsey.Beveridge@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

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Extra belly weight, not BMI, was a stronger predictor of heart failure risk, inflammation

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Excess fat stored around the waist (belly weight or visceral fat), indicated by measuring waist size, was more strongly associated with heart failure risk than body mass index (BMI).
Systemic inflammation played a key role in the relationship between extra weight stored around the waist, or central obesity, and heart failure. About one-quarter to one-third of the link between abdominal fat and heart failure appeared to be explained by inflammation.
The mediating role of inflammation in the association between central obesity and heart failure suggests that reducing inflammation levels may be a potential treatment strategy to reduce the risk of heart failure in these individuals.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT, Tuesday, March 17, 2026

BOSTON, March 17, 2026 — New research suggests that measures of excess weight around the waist (central obesity or visceral fat) may increase the risk of heart failure primarily due to inflammation, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting is in Boston, March 17-20, and offers the latest epidemiological science on prevention, lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.

In this study, researchers found that measurements of higher levels of visceral fat were more strongly linked to heart failure risk than overall body weight, and higher waist measurements identified higher risk even when body mass index (BMI) appeared normal. The study found that inflammation may help explain why belly fat is especially harmful to heart health, suggesting that where fat is stored in the body may matter more than weight. These findings point to opportunities to identify people at higher risk of heart failure using waist measurements rather than relying only on BMI.

“This research helps us understand why some people develop heart failure despite having a body weight that seems healthy,” said Szu-Han Chen, lead author of the study and a medical student at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. “By monitoring waist size and inflammation, clinicians may be able to identify people with higher risk earlier and focus on prevention strategies that could reduce the chance of heart failure before symptoms begin.”

According to a 2025 scientific statement from the American Heart Association focused on risk-based primary prevention of heart failure, systemic inflammation, or inflammation found throughout the body, is a common risk factor for heart disease because it can disrupt the immune system, damage blood vessels and lead to the build up of scar tissue in the heart. The Association has also highlighted evidence that higher levels of inflammation in the body are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, even in adults with normal cholesterol levels.

The study found:

112 adults developed heart failure during the median follow-up period of 6.9 years;
elevated measurements of excess weight around the waist were associated with increased heart failure risk, while high BMI was not;
higher waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were each associated with increased heart failure risk;
over the follow-up period of almost 7 years, participants with higher inflammation levels, as measured by blood tests, were more likely to experience heart failure; and
inflammation accounted for about one-quarter to one-third of the link between measures of fat stored around the waist and heart failure risk.

“This study highlights the importance of integrating measures of central adiposity such as waist circumference into routine preventive care. Understanding upstream drivers of heart failure risk including central adiposity is key to recognizing and modifying risk,“ said Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s 2025 Scientific Statement: Risk-Based Primary Prevention of Heart Failure. “This study builds on prior research that highlights the importance of excess or dysfunctional adiposity in the development of heart failure, which informed the inclusion of body mass index into the PREVENT-HF risk equations to estimate risk of heart failure. However, future research should identify if central adiposity has greater predictive utility beyond strength of association.” Khan, who was not involved in the study, is also Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and an associate professor of cardiology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

The researchers noted that they did not have access to participants’ heart failure subtypes, therefore, the findings are about all types of heart failure together. Future research should examine how visceral fat and inflammation relate to different types of heart failure and whether reducing inflammation can help prevent or reduce the risk of heart failure.

Study details, background and design:

Analysis included health data for 1,998 African American adults in three counties in urban and rural Jackson, Mississippi, enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study. Participants did not have heart failure at the time of enrollment in the Jackson Heart Study, 2000-2004.
Participants were ages 35-84 years old at enrollment, with an average age of 58 years; 36% were women, and they were followed for a median of 6.9 years, through December 31, 2016.
Researchers assessed participants’ body fat using measures including weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio.
Blood samples were tested to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a commonly used marker of inflammation in the body.
This study was conducted under the guidance of Professor Hao-Min Cheng at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.

The American Heart Association recently launched the Systemic Inflammation Data Challenge to encourage collaboration and deepen understanding of how inflammation contributes to heart disease and related conditions including heart failure.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Multimedia is available on the right column of the release link.
After March 17, view abstract 72 in the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 Online Program Planner
American Heart Association Scientific Statement news release: More resources and collaboration needed to support prevention and treatment of obesity (Jan. 2026)
American Heart Association news release: Data challenge explores inflammation’s hidden role in heart disease (June 2025)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Risk-Based Primary Prevention of Heart Failure (April 2025)
American Heart Association news release: Measure of body roundness may help to predict risk of cardiovascular disease (Sept. 2024)
American Heart Association health information: Simple ways to reduce inflammation and protect your heart
American Heart Association health information: What is Heart Failure?
For more news from the meeting, follow us on X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

The American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in population-based science. The meeting is Tuesday-Friday, March 17-20, 2026, in Boston. The primary goal of the meeting is to promote the development and application of translational and population science to prevent heart disease and stroke and foster cardiovascular health. The sessions focus on risk factors, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, genetics, metabolism, biomarkers, subclinical disease, clinical disease, healthy populations, global health, and prevention-oriented clinical trials. The Councils on Epidemiology and Prevention and Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health (Lifestyle) jointly planned the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. Follow EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 on X at #EPILifestyle26.

About the American Heart Association

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For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

Michelle Kirkwood: Michelle.Kirkwood@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Type 2 diabetes risk varied widely among adults 18-40 with prediabetes

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Adults with prediabetes by their early 30s who had high fasting glucose levels, in addition to other risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, had the highest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Individuals who had high fasting glucose levels (100-125 mg/dL) and who met the criteria for treatment with a GLP-1RA medication were more likely to progress from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes within five years.
Using blood test results and risk factors to identify which young adults with prediabetes had the highest risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes may help accelerate treatment for those who would benefit from intensive lifestyle interventions and, in some cases, treatment with weight-loss medications.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT, Tuesday, March 17, 2026

This news release reflects updated data provided by the research group and aligns with their poster presentation at EPI.

BOSTON, March 17, 2026 — A one-size-fits-all approach to prediabetes treatment may miss the opportunity to implement an early, more intensive, tailored prevention approach for those with the highest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting is in Boston, March 17-20, 2026, and offers the latest science on epidemiological science on prevention, lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.

Diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are on the rise in adults 40 years old and younger. Complications from Type 2 diabetes include heart disease, kidney disease and stroke, and it can also damage nerves in the brain, eyes and feet.

“We know that as a whole, people with prediabetes are at higher risk for progression to Type 2 diabetes and its complications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved treatment with the new weight-loss medications, called GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RA), for select patients who meet certain criteria. We used these existing criteria to estimate the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in young adults with glucose levels in the prediabetes range,” said Mary Rooney, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study and an assistant research professor in the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.

Some GLP-1 RA medications are FDA-approved for people with Type 2 diabetes and others to help facilitate weight loss when diet and exercise have not been effective. The eligibility criteria for prescribing GLP-1 RA medications for weight loss include obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m² or higher), or overweight (body mass index of 27 kg/m²) plus at least one related condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. GLP-1 RA medications are not FDA-approved for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes.

For their analysis, investigators estimated the 5-year risk of progression from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes in 662 young adults. Participants were followed for an average of seven years through one of three U.S.-based studies focused on young adult health and heart disease risk.

The analysis found:

The 5-year risk of progression from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes was 7.5% overall.
The risk increased to 10.9% for individuals who met the criteria for treatment with a GLP-1RA medication for weight loss.
In addition, the 5-year risk grew to 15.1% for those with higher levels of fasting glucose (110-125 mg/dL), and 24.8% for those with a higher fasting glucose and who met the criteria for treatment with a GLP-1 RA medication.

“Current approaches to Type 2 diabetes prevention are ‘one-size-fits-all.’ Our results signal that some people with prediabetes have a higher risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes. These are the patients who may benefit from more targeted, intensive treatment than others,” said Rooney.

According to the American Heart Association, lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy and engaging in regular, moderate physical activity, may reduce the progression of prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes, help manage Type 2 diabetes and mitigate other risk factors like high blood pressure, as well as heart attacks and stroke.

The study also raises the possibility that GLP-1 RA medications might be beneficial to prevent progression to Type 2 diabetes in people with prediabetes who meet the BMI measures for overweight or obesity and other weight-related health conditions.

“However, the cost-effectiveness of GLP-1 RA medications for Type 2 diabetes prevention, particularly in subgroups with the highest risk for Type 2 diabetes, is not yet known,” said Rooney.

"Different groups of people with Type 2 diabetes may need different prevention strategies based on their level of risk,” said Joshua J. Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, ASCI, an American Heart Association volunteer expert and chair of the Lifestyle Diabetes Committee for the Association’s Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. “A next step would be to study a larger and more diverse group of people so we can better understand how factors like where someone lives, such as a rural or urban setting, their background and their community influence risk. These findings support the idea of acting early, before Type 2 diabetes and related heart or kidney conditions become more serious, using healthy lifestyle changes and, when needed, medications to lower risk, consistent with the cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome framework, which prioritizes early intervention.” Joseph, who was not involved in this study, is an associate professor of internal medicine and the endowed professor for research in internal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Study details, background or design:

The study included 662 young adults from three studies in the U.S.: the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study and the Framingham Heart Study Third Generation.
Participants included adults ages 18-40 (mean age of 32 years) with prediabetes. 33% of all participants were women; 47% self-identified as Hispanic/Latino, 45% self-identified as non-Hispanic White and 7% self-identified as non-Hispanic Black.
Health information, including fasting glucose levels, weight and body mass index, lipid levels and blood pressure, was measured during study visits between 1985 and 2011, all prior to the first FDA approval of GLP-1 RA medications for weight loss.
During a median follow-up period of about seven years, researchers analyzed how the various risk factors influenced the 5-year risk of progressing from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes.

The study’s findings are limited because participants’ hemoglobin A1c blood tests, which measure blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, were not available. Hemoglobin A1c can also be used to define prediabetes. Only fasting glucose tests were included in the analysis.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

A video interview with American Heart Association volunteer expert, Dr. Antonio Cabrera, and additional multimedia are available on the right column of the release link.
Spanish news release
After Tuesday, March 17, view abstract MPTU11 in the EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 Online Program Planner.
American Heart Association news release: Millions are unaware of heart risks that don’t start in the heart (Feb. 2026)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement news release: More resources and collaboration needed to support prevention and treatment of obesity (Jan. 2026)
American Heart Association health information: About Prediabetes (April 2024)
American Heart Association Presidential Advisory news release: Heart disease risk, prevention and management redefined (Oct. 2023)
American Heart Association news release: Lifestyle changes, meds effective to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes; no change in CVD (May 2022)
American Heart Association news release: Updated: Prediabetes linked to higher heart attack risk in young adults (May 2022)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Comprehensive Management of Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (Jan. 2022)
For more news from EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews, #EPILifestyle26.

About the American Heart Association

###

For Media Inquiries and American Heart Association Expert Perspective:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173;ahacommunications@heart.org

Kelsey Beveridge: Kelsey.Beveridge@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Protein buildup in brain blood vessels linked with increased 5-year risk of dementia

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a condition caused by the buildup of amyloid (proteins) in brain blood vessels, was associated with increased risk of developing dementia within 5 years, in a study of nearly 2 million adults in the U.S. with health insurance coverage through Medicare.
There was a strong association between blood vessel protein buildup and increased dementia risk for all study participants with or without a history of stroke.
Researchers say these findings highlight the need to proactively screen for cognitive changes after a diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy to help prevent further cognitive decline.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a condition where protein (called amyloid) builds up in the brain, making blood vessels weak. People with CAA are four times more likely to develop dementia within five years, regardless of whether they have had a stroke, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) can lead to hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding stroke) and raises the risk of ischemic stroke (clot-caused stroke). As people age, some amyloid protein can collect in the brain’s blood vessels without causing symptoms. People receive a clinical diagnosis of CAA when the buildup becomes significant enough to damage the vessels and affect brain function. In some severe cases, the protein deposits can cause the walls of blood vessels to crack. This can lead to blood leaking out and damaging the brain, and this damage is known as a bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke. CAA also contributes to cognitive impairment and is often found in people with Alzheimer’s Disease. This study investigated the risk of developing dementia among adults diagnosed with CAA, the link between CAA and stroke and the risk of dementia.

“Many people with CAA develop dementia; however, so far, clinicians haven’t had clear, large-scale estimates on how often and how quickly dementia progresses in these patients,” said study author Samuel S. Bruce, M.D., M.A., an assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

“Our study calculated estimates from a large sample of Medicare patients whether people with CAA are more likely to be newly diagnosed with dementia and to clarify how CAA and stroke — separately and together — relate to new dementia diagnoses.”

Researchers analyzed the health information for more than 1.9 million adults covered by Medicare, ages 65 and older, from 2016 to 2022. They reviewed newly diagnosed dementia cases and how ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are related to dementia risk in people with CAA. Patients were tracked through health changes — no CAA or stroke, CAA only, stroke only, both CAA and stroke — over time. By observing health status over time, the researchers could see how much time each patient spent in each state and pinpoint the onset of dementia, Bruce explained.

They found that CAA greatly increased the risk of developing dementia within the 5-year estimate, even more than the effects of stroke.

The analysis found:

The risk of being diagnosed with dementia within five years of CAA diagnosis was about four times higher in people with CAA versus people without CAA (42% vs. 10%, respectively).
People with CAA and stroke were 4.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia at any given time point, compared to adults with neither CAA nor stroke.
People with CAA without stroke were 4.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia at any given time point, compared to patients with neither CAA nor stroke.
Adults with only stroke without CAA were 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia at any given time point, compared to patients with neither CAA nor stroke.

“What stood out was that the risk of developing dementia among those with CAA without stroke was similar to those with CAA with stroke, and both conditions had a higher increase in the incidence of dementia when compared to participants with stroke alone. This suggests that non-stroke-related mechanisms are instrumental to dementia risk in CAA,” Bruce said. “These results highlight the need to proactively screen for cognitive changes after a diagnosis of CAA and address risk factors to prevent further cognitive decline.”

According to Steven M. Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, former chair of the International Stroke Conference and author of the commentary, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy | Stroke, “Diseases of the brain’s small blood vessels are major contributors to dementia. This is especially true for CAA, which often occurs together with Alzheimer’s disease, making for a potent 1-2 punch. We know there is risk for dementia after any type of stroke, but these results suggest even greater risk for CAA patients.” Greenberg is also a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston and was not involved in this study.

Study limitations included that researchers obtained clinical study information from administrative diagnosis codes used in inpatient and outpatient health insurance claims submitted to Medicare. “These codes are an imperfect proxy for clinical diagnoses, and misclassifications can occur,” Bruce said. Researchers tried to mitigate the limitation by using codes that have been shown to accurately capture correct diagnoses in administrative data. They also did not have access to imaging data to more rigorously assess the diagnoses of CAA and stroke.

Further research is needed to confirm these results, especially with prospective studies that follow patients forward (instead of looking back in time). Those studies should include standardized approaches for diagnosing CAA and stroke.

Study details, background and design:

This retrospective study, which examined past data, included information from both inpatient and outpatient health claims for 1,909,365 adults in the U.S. covered by Medicare. Of those, 752 (0.04%) received a CAA diagnosis during the study period.
Participants were age 65 and older, with an average age of 73 years; 54% were women and 46% were men. The participants were 82.4% white adults, 7.3% Black adults, and 10.3% were individuals from other racial groups.
The study used data collected by Medicare on health insurance claims submitted by professionals and hospitals in the course of clinical care. Researchers had access to multiple years of data, from 2016 to 2022.

Co-authors, funding and disclosures are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Steven M. Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Stroke Association health information: Uncommon Causes of Stroke
American Stroke Association news release: Risk of dementia was nearly three times higher the first year after a stroke (Feb. 2024)
American Heart Association news release: Cognitive impairment after stroke is common, and early diagnosis and treatment needed (May 2023)
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

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About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public’s health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and X.

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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New app to detect social interactions after stroke may help improve treatment, recovery

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

A smartwatch used a machine learning algorithm to detect social interactions through sounds in the environment. This technology was able to measure how much social interaction occurred among stroke survivors in the hospital.
Social interaction is known to support brain health and recovery after neurological injury; so, this technology could support strategies focused on strengthening social ties, which, in turn, may lead to improved physical recovery and quality of life, even among stroke survivors with language difficulties.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

The news release contains updated information not included in the abstract.

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — A smartwatch app designed to measure social interactions of hospitalized stroke survivors may enable new treatments to preserve or enhance cognition, social engagement and quality of life after a stroke, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

Researchers developed a machine learning app called SocialBit, which is compatible with Android smartwatches, and can identify social interactions in both people with and without neurological conditions. The researchers noted that other devices to track social interactions are focused on people without disabilities. SocialBit is currently only available for use in research projects.

According to the American Stroke Association, the loss or change in speech (dysarthria) and language (aphasia) profoundly alters the social life of stroke survivors. Yet, research has shown that socializing is one of the best ways to maximize recovery after a stroke.

“My previous research has demonstrated that stroke survivors who are socially isolated or have a smaller circle of friends and family have worse physical outcomes at 3 and 6 months after a stroke,” said study lead author Amar Dhand, M.D., D.Phil., an associate professor of neurology in the division of stroke and cerebrovascular disorders in the department of neurology at Mass General Brigham in Boston. “We created a tracker of social life customized for stroke survivors. Tracking human engagement is crucial, and social isolation can now be identified in real-world situations. This may be addressed by notifying the patient, family members, caregivers and health care professionals of social isolation.”

Researchers recruited 153 adults during their hospitalization for an ischemic stroke.

Participants wore a smartwatch with the SocialBit app while they were in their hospital rooms, between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, for up to 8 days (some of which may have been after transfer to a rehabilitation hospital). The app logged the amount of socialization time according to acoustic patterns from the participant and/or another person talking, indicating social engagement. During the same timeframe, members of the research team watched a livestream video of the participants and logged the same minute-by-minute social interactions of the participants with others.

The researchers found:

Compared with human observers, SocialBit was 94% as accurate in recognizing social interactions.
In patients with aphasia, SocialBit maintained accuracy at 93%.
SocialBit’s performance remained consistent despite TV noise, side conversations, different environments (rehabilitation unit versus hospital) and across various Android smartwatch models.
Participants who had a more severe stroke had less social interaction, with about a 1% drop in total social interaction minutes for each 1-point increase in the NIH Stroke Scale, a standardized tool used to assess the severity of a stroke.

“I was surprised by how well the app performed for people with aphasia. We used SocialBit to capture sounds instead of words to protect privacy, and this feature ended up being helpful for people with limited language skills,” Dhand said.

“The SocialBit app may also help people recover from brain injuries. It can support therapies like speech, occupational and exercise therapy,” he said.

Future research could use SocialBit to measure how many people are at risk for social isolation while in the hospital and after they leave. It could also explore how this isolation is related to depression and other mental health changes that can happen after a stroke.

“We can also test if this app can help with other brain injuries and in healthy aging to keep and improve brain health over time,” Dhand said.

One limitation of the study was that the detailed evaluations of social interactions were only tested in hospital or rehabilitation settings.

Chair of the American Heart Association Stroke Council and chair of the writing group for the Association’s 2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke Cheryl Bushnell, M.D., M.H.S., FAHA, said, “This research is fascinating in its capture of social interactions, which I presume can distinguish between conversations from case managers, nurses, therapists and the care team from non-hospital personnel. If not, then the amount of social interaction could be dependent on the size of the care team (academic teams have more staff, and trainees spend more time in the patient’s room), or the nurse-to-patient ratio. If the app does distinguish hospital from non-hospital personnel, then distance from the hospital and the number of family and friends become major factors in the degree of social interaction. Regardless, there are multiple interesting ways this app could be used in future studies, including measures of quality of hospital care and social interactions at rehab facilities and nursing homes.” Bushnell is also a professor and director of the Center for Transformative Stroke Care in the department of neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and she was not involved in this study.

Study details, background and design:

153 adults (average age of 66 years, ranging from 26 to 94; 53% were men, 46% were women, 1% other) were hospitalized with ischemic stroke. Among all study participants, strokes were mild (median score of 2 on the NIH Stroke Scale), as was cognitive impairment (mean score of 23.6 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment).
Participants were hospitalized at Brigham and Women’s Hospital between June 2021 and March 2025 for the initial treatment of stroke. No participants were in the intensive care unit, where visitation was restricted. Some patients who stayed in the study were moved to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center during part of the assessment period.
Participants were not included in the study if they were receiving end-of-life care, had a prior diagnosis of dementia, or if they or their decision-maker could not speak or understand English well enough to complete surveys or confirm informed consent to participate in the study.
Between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, participants wore a smartwatch equipped with the SocialBit algorithm. Using acoustic patterns indicating human speech, the device quantified the number of minutes per day participants engaged in social interaction with another human. These were compared with ratings from human observers monitoring livestream video during the same time periods.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Cheryl Bushnell, M.D., M.H.S., FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association Scientific Statement news release: Equitable access to digital technologies may help improve cardiovascular health (April 2025)
American Heart Association news release: Research aims to harness technology for improved heart and brain health (Jan. 2024)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement news release: Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of death from heart attack, stroke (Aug. 2022)
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

###

About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Stroke survivors may be less lonely, have better recovery if they can share their feelings

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Stroke survivors who felt they could not talk about their feelings or fears about their health with close friends or family reported feeling lonelier and had worse physical and mental recovery when assessed one year after the stroke.
Difficulty sharing their feelings with family/friends was as important as the severity of the stroke for identifying patients who would experience greater disability and poorer physical function one year after the stroke.
Supporting caregivers, family and health care professionals to provide a safe space that encourages stroke survivors to share their feelings and fears after having a stroke may enhance stroke recovery.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Stroke survivors who were uncomfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings about their condition and future had slower physical and cognitive recovery after their stroke, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

“When trying to cope with major stress and trauma, a lot of people benefit from having a supportive social environment where they can talk about what they are going through,” said lead study author E. Alison Holman, Ph.D., a professor of nursing in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at the University of California Irvine. “However, when stroke survivors feel uncomfortable sharing their thoughts/feelings because they think talking about it will make others uncomfortable or that others won’t want to hear their concerns, these constraints on sharing can be harmful for their health.”

Researchers investigated whether social constraints on sharing feelings and emotions predicted loneliness and functional and cognitive disability one year after a stroke. The analysis included more than 700 participants in the STRONG (Stroke, sTress, RehabilitatiON, and Genetics) study, conducted at 28 U.S. sites. STRONG has already revealed that one-year recovery after a stroke is worse if there was a higher level of stress and trauma in a person’s life before their stroke, if they experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms while still hospitalized after the stroke or if they had certain genetic variations.

In the current study, researchers assessed participants’ perception of social constraints at 3 months after their stroke, after the initial healing period. Stroke survivors identified a person they regularly depend on, often a family member serving as a caregiver, and answered two questions about their interactions with this person: “In the past week, how often did you get the feeling that he or she didn’t want to hear about your feelings about your stroke or your fears about future health problems?”; and “How often have you felt as though you had to keep your feelings about your stroke or your fears about future health problems to yourself because they made him or her feel uncomfortable or upset?”

The analysis found that one year after the stroke, people who felt less able to openly share their feelings at 90 days were more likely to experience several challenges:

They felt lonelier, reporting they felt more left out, isolated or without companionship in the past week.
They had more difficulty with everyday activities, such as feeding or bathing (they needed more help overall).
They experienced greater problems with thinking skills, including memory, attention and language.

“The level of social constraint after 90 days was just as effective at predicting overall disability and physical function one year later as the initial severity of the stroke,” Holman said. “For many stroke-focused health care professionals, the severity of the stroke is the gold standard for understanding how well or poorly a person will be doing down the road.”

She encouraged other stroke researchers to inquire about what’s going on in patients’ social environment early after a stroke to understand if it may influence recovery and to provide support.

For caregivers, Holman encourages, “making room, a safe space, for people to talk about their stroke, let them talk about their feelings and what they’re going through so they can process what has happened and what’s going on. However, don’t try to force it because not everyone needs to verbalize their emotions. Providing a safe place for them to share, if needed, is the key.”

The researchers noted that if these results are confirmed in future studies, interventions could be designed to help stroke survivors face fewer social challenges.

American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Amytis Towfighi, M.D., FAHA, said, “While social support is increasingly recognized as beneficial after stroke, less is known about how social constraints affect recovery. This study is one of the first to assess their influence on long-term psychological, cognitive and functional outcomes. The findings offer valuable insights that can inform interventions to improve post-stroke recovery.” Towfighi is also a professor of neurology and population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and director, neurological services at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Study details, background and design:

The study included 763 participants (average age of 63 years; 41.2% women; 69.4% self-reported white adults) who enrolled in the trial while hospitalized after a mild to moderate stroke.
Participants were part of the STRONG (Stroke, sTress, RehabilitatiON, and Genetics) study, which was a detailed multi-center study examining the first year of recovery after a stroke, conducted at 28 U.S. sites between 2016 and 2021.
Researchers assessed participants during their first hospitalization and again at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-stroke. At one year, physical and cognitive function were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale and the results of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment administered during a telephone call.
Loneliness was rated using three items from the UCLA Loneliness Scale. This was assessed at every follow-up, at 3, 6, and 12 months post-stroke. The UCLA Loneliness Scale rated patients’ level of loneliness on a 5-point scale from “never” to “all the time,” so higher scores mean more frequent feelings of being lonely.
At 90 days, the degree of discomfort expressed by the stroke survivors in relation to their concerns was rated using two items from the Social Constraints Scale.
After controlling for age, gender, race, stroke severity and stress 2-10 days after the stroke, researchers analyzed the association between more social constraints at 3 months with loneliness and recovery levels at one year.

Patient Perspective: Why social support matters after stroke

Dipika Aggarwal, a neurologist from Kansas City, Missouri, was living a full life when a stroke in 2019 turned everything upside down. At just 38, she went from thriving in her career to months in intensive rehab, followed by isolation during the COVID lockdown. “I lost my professional life, my engagement ended and there was no guarantee I’d ever work again,” she recalls. “My mental health got so bad that I started thinking about ending my life. I didn’t even realize I was experiencing post-stroke depression.”

Aggarwal says it took months before she felt comfortable talking about her stroke. When she finally opened up, first to family, then publicly on social media, it changed everything.

“Sharing my story helped me heal. It gave me hope to hear from others and feel less alone,” said Aggarwal, who now volunteers for the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. “The social, financial and psychological aspects of recovery are huge, and we don’t talk about them enough. My advice to other stroke survivors: don’t keep things hush-hush. Seek support, allow yourself to be vulnerable and connect with people who understand what you’re going through.”

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Amytis Towfighi, M.D., FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
Spanish news release with video interview in Spanish.
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association Scientific Statement news release: Depression common following a stroke impacting 1/3 of survivors (Feb. 2023)
American Stroke Association health information: Life After Stroke
American Stroke Association health information: American Stroke Association Support Network
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

###

About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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New risk assessment tool may help predict dementia after a stroke

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

A new risk prediction tool was able to accurately identify stroke survivors with the highest risk for developing dementia within a decade of having a stroke, according to a large study in Canada.
Factors linked with a higher risk of developing dementia after a stroke included being older, having any disability before the stroke, having a higher level of disability after the stroke, having an intracerebral hemorrhage (compared to an ischemic stroke), having diabetes, experiencing cognitive symptoms during hospitalization or suffering from depression.
Knowing the risk of developing dementia after a stroke can help researchers design better clinical trials and interventions. It can also guide the recruitment of patients who are eligible to participate in efforts to lower the risk of dementia.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — A new risk calculator accurately estimated the likelihood of adults developing dementia within ten years after a stroke, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.

According to researchers, people with stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at high risk of subsequent dementia, but prediction tools for dementia are lacking.

“Our previous research found that about 1 in 3 adults developed dementia after stroke over the long-term. We created a new tool that can stratify people into five different levels of dementia risk after stroke based on underlying health, stroke characteristics and risk factors,” said lead study author Raed A. Joundi, M.D., D.Phil., M.Sc., an assistant professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University, a stroke neurologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, a scientist at the Population Health Research Institute, all in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and an adjunct scientist at ICES Central in Toronto (where the statistical analysis was done).

“The goal is to have a practical, bedside tool that can predict dementia risk after a stroke. Our tool predicts dementia rates that are very close to the observed rates and may help to enroll high-risk patients who have had transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage in clinical trials that are focused on reducing the long-term risk of dementia.”

Researchers examined health records for nearly 50,000 adults hospitalized with stroke to create and validate a risk model to estimate which stroke survivors have the highest risk of developing dementia. The data from the Ontario Stroke Registry included hospital admissions due to stroke between 2002 and 2013 in Canada. Study participants drawn from the registry for derivation of the risk score included 7,554 adults with transient ischemic attack (TIA), 13,833 with ischemic stroke and 2,340 with intracerebral hemorrhage. The participants were discharged from the hospital without a diagnosis of dementia, and all were followed for a diagnosis of dementia through March 2024 (average of 7.5 years after stroke) based on administrative health data.

Researchers examined the rates of dementia calculated by the new tool and compared them to the observed rates of dementia. The score was derived in the Ontario Stroke Registry (11 regional stroke centers) and validated in the Ontario Stroke Audit, a separate, randomly selected sample of patients from all hospitals in the province.

The analysis found:

For people who had a transient ischemic attack, the top factors associated with increased dementia risk were older age, needing help with activities of daily living prior to TIA, having diabetes, depression, cognitive symptoms on presentation (such as memory, judgment or attention) and any disability at hospital discharge.
The main risk factors associated with developing dementia for people with stroke were being older, being female, having diabetes, depression, intracerebral hemorrhage (compared to ischemic stroke), cognitive symptoms during hospitalization or greater disability at hospital discharge.
The risk calculator used the top risk factors for dementia to categorize individuals into different levels of estimated risk over the next 10 years after a stroke. Those in the highest category of estimated risk had a 50% probability of dementia over 10 years, versus participants in the lowest category of risk who had a 5% probability of dementia.

The study authors note that the current focus of the dementia risk prediction tool is to stratify patients into different levels of risk for research studies and clinical trials of dementia prevention, rather than clinical decision-making or treatment.

“Dementia is a serious condition that commonly occurs in the aftermath of a stroke,” Joundi said. “While our traditional focus has been on preventing another stroke, which is very important, we need to pay more attention to the development of dementia and how to prevent it. Over the long-term, dementia is more common than a recurrent stroke. Healthy lifestyle choices and controlling vascular risk factors can lower the risk of dementia, but we need new and effective targeted interventions for dementia prevention.”

Study limitations include that data were not available about the type of dementia that may develop. Researchers did not have access to imaging scans of the study participants, which would offer more detailed information about their stroke location and size or the presence of covert infarcts (small ischemic brain lesions).

American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., said, “Dementia after a stroke is very difficult for patients and their loved ones, and there aren’t enough effective treatments to help. This well-done study provides a useful tool that could make research faster, so new treatments can get to stroke survivors sooner.” Levine is a professor of internal medicine and neurology, the departments of internal medicine and neurology, the Cognitive Health Services Research and Stroke Programs and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan. Levine was not involved in this study.

Study details, background and design:

The average age of all participants was 70; 53% of participants were men, and 47% women.
Using the new risk predictor tool, researchers calculated 1-, 5- and 10-year dementia risk scores, and participants were divided into five groups, ranging from the lowest to the highest risk, based on the risk factors that were present. The risk calculator evaluated the number and the degree of each factor’s contribution to dementia risk, resulting in a composite score that indicates the likelihood of developing dementia in the future.
Researchers identified risk factors and other characteristics, such as age, diabetes status, depression, disability and sex, then divided patients into five categories of dementia risk based on these risk factors.
To validate the results, researchers reviewed data on a similar number of stroke admissions from the Ontario Stroke Audit. Dementia risk scores were calculated separately for participants who had a transient ischemic attack vs. a stroke.
This tool, used prior to discharge from the hospital, has the potential to help physicians assess whether patients might develop long-term dementia.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Stroke Association news release: Risk of dementia was nearly three times higher the first year after a stroke (Feb. 2024)
AHA Scientific Statement: Cognitive impairment after stroke is common, and early diagnosis and treatment needed (May 2023)
American Heart Association news release: What do we mean by “brain health” and why should you care about it? (March 2025)
American Heart Association health initiative: Healthy For Good™
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

###

About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

]]>

Tear in inner lining of neck artery may not raise stroke risk in first 6 months of diagnosis

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Adults who had a dissecting aneurysm in the neck artery wall (a cervical artery dissection or CeAD) did not have a higher risk of stroke compared to those with cervical artery dissection without a dissecting aneurysm in the first six months after diagnosis, according to data analysis from a global registry.
The findings should offer reassurance and much-needed information about how best to diagnose and treat people with dissecting aneurysm and CeAD, researchers said.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — People who developed a type of aneurysm with a cervical artery dissection (a tear in the inner lining of the neck artery wall), a known cause of stroke, particularly in young adults, did not have an increased risk of stroke within the six months after diagnosis, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) causes about 2% of ischemic strokes overall; however, it accounts for up to 25% of strokes in adults younger than 50 years old. Cervical artery dissection occurs when there’s a tear in the inner wall of an artery in the neck, and this tear can let blood leak out, forming a clot that may travel and lead to a stroke. In some cases, blood leaking through the tear in the artery wall during a dissection can create a bulge or balloon in the artery, called a dissecting aneurysm.

“We have little scientific information about dissecting aneurysm, including how to best diagnose, monitor aneurysm growth and manage the health of people with dissecting aneurysms,” said study author Muhib Khan, M.D., M.B.B.S., an associate professor in neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “We leveraged a large dataset from a global registry to provide a comprehensive overview of dissecting aneurysm diagnosis, monitoring and outcomes.”

In the Antithrombotics for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection (STOP-CAD) subanalysis, researchers performed a secondary analysis of data from the STOP-CAD study, a multicenter, international study. CeAD patients were stratified for the presence of dissecting aneurysm, and researchers examined data for signs that the aneurysm was growing and to identify factors associated with dissecting aneurysm.

The analysis found:

Dissecting aneurysm is common in people with CeAD and generally is not life-threatening in the short term (first 6 months). Of more than 4,000 participants with CeAD, about one in five (or 19%) developed a dissecting aneurysm.
People with a dissecting aneurysm were more likely to have a history of migraines, connective tissue disorders and minor neck trauma before the dissection. These risk factors may assist clinicians in monitoring for the development of dissecting aneurysms.
People with CeAD and dissecting aneurysms did not have a higher risk of having a stroke compared to those with CeAD but no dissecting aneurysms.
Among those who had a dissecting aneurysm, about 10% showed growth of the aneurysm over 6 months. However, dissecting aneurysm growth also did not lead to a higher risk of stroke.

“Reassuringly, dissecting aneurysm formation was not related to hemorrhagic stroke or increased mortality either,” said study co-author Zafer Keser, M.D., an associate professor in neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Our study provides important information to help health care professionals better monitor and manage patients during the first six months after diagnosis of an aneurysm.”

A limitation of this study was that it relied on the review of the images by radiologists and trained neurologists; however, there was no standardized and centralized process for assessing how patients fared during the initial months after diagnosis. The analysis also looked back in time (the retrospective design) at the health information for the STOP-CAD study. A year-long study that closely follows patients over time and clearly outlines treatment methods, as well as how researchers interpret the images, would help confirm their results, researchers said.

“The study adds to existing evidence that suggests cervical artery dissections have a low risk of recurrent stroke,” said former chair of the International Stroke Conference, Louise D. McCullough, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA. “Having a dissecting aneurysm may not be as scary as we initially thought. It helps us and our patients understand that although there is damage to the artery of the neck that their rate of recurrent stroke is low, and that's reassuring.

“The results could have practical implications, as well. Often, we follow these patients with a lot of imaging that we may not need to do quite as often. These results will probably give us a little bit of pause if we’re thinking about doing an intervention such as placing a carotid stent — which would require chronic antiplatelets — if we know the risk of recurrent strokes in patients with dissecting aneurysms is low,” said McCullough, the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair of Neurology at McGovern Medical School; chief of neurology at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center and co-director of UTHealth Neurosciences, all in Houston. McCullough was not involved in the study.

Study details, background and design:

The study included 4,008 adults (average age of 46 years; 50% were men, 50% women), including 767 participants (19%) with a dissecting aneurysm.
Participants were 73.5% white adults, 9.2% Hispanic adults, 6% Black adults, 3.7% Asian adults and 16.9% were noted as other race.
The Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection (STOP-CAD) Multicenter Global Registry enrolled patients who were diagnosed with CeAD from 2010 to 2023 at 63 sites from 16 countries and followed for 6 months after diagnosis. The primary coordinating site was the Department of Neurology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Clinical, imaging, management and outcomes data were collected in a centralized registry up to six months from the initial CeAD presentation in the STOP-CAD study.

See also: Abstract A048: De Novo Pseudoaneurysm Formation After Cervical Artery Dissection: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes (Zafer Keser, M.D.)

Co-authors and disclosures are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Louise D. McCullough, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association health information: Strokes caused by artery tears: What you should know (podcast)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Treatment and Outcomes of Cervical Artery Dissection in Adults: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (Feb. 2024)
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

###

About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

]]>

Data analysis finds multiple antiplatelets linked to worse outcomes after a brain bleed

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Based on an analysis of a decade of hospital stroke registry data, people who had brain bleeds were more likely to die in the hospital if they were taking multiple antiplatelet medications, or medications stronger than aspirin, before the bleed.
People who were taking only aspirin before the brain bleed had the same risk of death as those not taking any antiplatelet medications.
The results open the door to research on how to improve care for people hospitalized with a brain bleed who have been taking antiplatelet medications.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Analysis of hospital registry data found that people who were hospitalized due to bleeding in the brain and who had taken multiple antiplatelet medications, or medications stronger than aspirin, were more likely to die before leaving the hospital compared to those not taking any antiplatelet medication, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.

Antiplatelet medications are prescribed to stop blood clot formation by making blood platelets less sticky. These medications are often prescribed in the treatment and prevention of heart attacks and ischemic strokes. Aspirin is a commonly prescribed, mild anti-clotting medication that can help prevent ischemic strokes, which are caused by blood clots. Sometimes, a patient will also be prescribed one or more stronger antiplatelet medications (such as clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor) in addition to aspirin after a heart attack or ischemic stroke.

“Previous research assessing the relationship between antiplatelet therapy and patient outcomes after a brain bleed has grouped all the medications together. We conducted this study to find out if different antiplatelet medications or combinations affect overall death and recovery in people with a brain bleed,” said lead study author Santosh Murthy, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

Researchers analyzed a decade of data for more than 400,000 adults in the U.S. hospitalized for a brain bleed (intracranial hemorrhage) without a traumatic brain injury or any other type of stroke who received care at a hospital participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Registry. Patients who were on anticoagulant medication were excluded. The short-term outcome was considered unfavorable if a patient died or was sent to hospice care vs. favorable if a patient was discharged home or to another care setting.

Among 426,481 people hospitalized with intracranial hemorrhage, 109,512 were taking only one antiplatelet, 17,009 were taking two antiplatelet medications, while 300,558 did not receive any antiplatelet treatment before the brain bleed.

The researchers found that when compared to patients with no antiplatelet therapy before the brain bleed:

Patients taking aspirin alone did not have an increased risk of dying in the hospital, and aspirin was associated with lower odds of an unfavorable outcome.
Patients taking a stronger antiplatelet medication, either alone or in combination with aspirin, had an increased risk of death in the hospital.
There was a trend towards patients taking stronger antiplatelet medications or dual therapy having an increased risk of an unfavorable outcome.

American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Jonathan Rosand, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, said, “Using dual antiplatelet therapy and new generation antiplatelet drugs has improved the lives of many people with coronary artery disease. However, there are risks involved. Patients on these medications have a slightly higher chance of having a bleeding stroke. This new study shows that if a stroke occurs while on these treatments, it is more likely to be fatal. If you’re on these medications, check with your health care professional to ensure they are still right for you. If your health care professional advises you to continue, it likely means they are helping you more than they are harming you.” Rosand is also a professor of neurology at Harvard, holds the JP Kistler Endowed Chair in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and is founder of the Global Brain Care Coalition. Rosand was not involved in this study.

“These results do not imply that people should be reluctant to take antiplatelet medications if recommended,” Murthy said. “The findings of our study show that if patients have a brain bleed, the type of antiplatelet medication they were taking before the bleed may affect their risk of death or other severe outcomes. It is important to note that we did not analyze the risk of having a brain bleed from different antiplatelet medications. And with more research, these results may help inform how antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage is managed in the hospital. Currently, antiplatelet medications are discontinued immediately after a bleed. Another option may be giving patients transfusions of donor platelets to lower the bleeding risk.”

Current guidelines do not recommend platelet transfusions for patients with bleeding in the brain if they are taking one or more antiplatelet medications, unless they need immediate surgery. Future studies should examine whether platelet transfusions affect the outcomes differently in patients after brain bleeds who were taking single or dual antiplatelet therapies.

The current study is limited because it did not consider specific characteristics of the brain bleed, such as the amount of blood or where in the brain tissue the bleed was located and if it involved the fluid-filled cavities in the brain. These measures could help gauge the severity of the brain bleed and how each might influence the patient’s outcomes.

Intracranial hemorrhage accounts for about 10% of all strokes in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

Study details, background and design:

Data for 426,481 adults who were hospitalized due to an intracranial hemorrhage (average age of 67 years; 53% were men).
All participants were treated between 2011-2021 at a hospital in the U.S. participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines-Stroke Registry.
The Get With The Guidelines registry is the largest program in the U.S. that collects data from hundreds of hospitals nationwide to help improve care for heart disease and stroke. These hospitals treat patients who reflect the diverse U.S. population.
Researchers used multiple logistic regression, a statistical method that can account for the influence of multiple factors on a yes-or-no result (in this case, a favorable or unfavorable hospital outcome), to examine the relationship between various types and numbers of antiplatelet medications.
The results were adjusted for: demographic factors; other vascular conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a history of heart disease) that might influence both the use of antiplatelet medications and the risk of a poor outcome after a brain bleed; severity of the brain bleed on the NIHSS Stroke Scale; use of a ventricular drain; and hospital characteristics (including whether it was located in a city, if it was a teaching hospital and how many strokes treated at the hospital each year).

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Jonathan Rosand, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association news release: Newer blood thinner plus aspirin reduced stroke risk by 27% in patients with heart plaque (Nov. 2020)
American Heart Association health information: Types of Stroke and Treatment
American Heart Association health information: Types of Heart Medications
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

###

About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

]]>

Older adults’ driving habits offer window into brain health, cognitive decline

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

A study of over 200 adults followed for five years found that greater white matter damage in the brain was linked to decreased driving, fewer trips, repetitive routes and having more driving errors, especially in those who later developed dementia.
In contrast, adults ages 65 and older who were taking blood pressure medicines, particularly ACE inhibitors, were less likely to show risky driving behaviors, even when brain damage was present (evidence of white matter damage caused by reduced blood flow to brain tissue).
Subtle changes in everyday driving habits may be early warning signs of brain changes and higher dementia risk, even before traditional memory and thinking symptoms appear, the researchers noted.
White matter damage in the back part of the brain, which helps people process what they see and coordinate movement, was most strongly tied to unsafe driving and crashes, pointing to a potential early warning marker for higher driving risk in older adults.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Older adults’ driving habits revealed clues about their brain health and may provide early warning signs of cognitive decline or dementia, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

“Driving habits in older adults can reveal early changes in brain health. How often people drive, where they go, and how much they vary their routes may signal underlying damage to the brain’s white matter, which is linked to cognitive decline and dementia,” said study author Chia-Ling Phuah, M.D., M.M.Sc., an associate professor of neurocritical care and co-director of the Neuro Analytics Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. “These findings suggest that even small shifts in daily driving patterns can offer important clues about brain changes — sometimes before traditional memory and thinking symptoms are noticeable.”

According to the American Heart Association 2026 Heart and Stroke Statistics, about 6.9 million (10.9%) – or 1 in 9 - adults 65 years or older in the United States were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2024.

Researchers reviewed driving habits for 220 adult volunteers, ages 65 and older, living independently in St. Louis, Missouri. Detailed cognitive assessments indicated participants were free of dementia at the start of the study. Car sensors were used to track participants’ driving behavior (including speeding, collisions, hard braking or hard cornering) for more than five years. They conducted additional brain imaging studies within the first year of the study to measure changes in the brain’s white matter, specifically white matter hyperintensities — areas of white matter damage caused by reduced blood flow to brain tissue.

The analysis found:

Older adults who had more white matter hyperintensities tended to drive less and show sharper declines in their willingness or ability to change driving routes and habits.
Over more than five years of follow-up, 17% of participants developed cognitive impairment and most of these individuals were later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Among the 17% of participants who developed cognitive impairment, higher white matter hyperintensity burden on brain imaging was linked to a greater likelihood of unsafe driving practices, such as hard braking, and to more crashes.
“Participants with white matter hyperintensities located in the back of the brain — a region responsible for processing what people see and how they move — were at even higher risk of crashes than those with changes in other brain areas, making them more likely to experience unsafe driving episodes and car accidents over time,“ Phuah explained.
Participants taking medications to manage high blood pressure, especially angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, were less likely to exhibit risky driving when compared with those who were not taking any blood pressure medication.

Overall, the study’s findings suggest that monitoring driving behavior with commercial in-vehicle data loggers may help identify older adults at higher risk for unsafe driving, loss of independence and subtle cognitive problems, Phuah noted.

“One especially promising finding was that people taking blood pressure medications, particularly ACE inhibitors, tended to maintain safer driving habits even when their brain scans revealed more damage. This effect was observed regardless of whether their blood pressure levels were at target levels,” Phuah said. “This suggests that these medications may help support brain health as we age.”

Nada El Husseini, M.D., M.H.Sc., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association’s 2023 scientific statement, Cognitive Impairment After Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke said, “What’s surprising about these findings is that people taking ACE inhibitors were less likely to have impairment in their driving despite the extent of white matter disease. The impact of ACE inhibitors on cognitive function and driving safety in people with white matter disease requires further investigation. Also, these results suggest cognitive screening and brain imaging might be considered for people with driving difficulties.” El Husseini is an associate professor of neurology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina and was not involved in this study.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80, and treatment is recommended for people with blood pressure levels 140/90 mm Hg or higher (stage 2 hypertension). Recent research confirms that blood pressure affects brain health, including cognitive function and dementia, so early treatment is recommended for people diagnosed with high blood pressure to maintain brain health and cognition, according to the 2025 American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Guideline.

Key limitations include a small study size, most participants were white, college-educated adults, so results may not generalize to people from more diverse backgrounds, and medication use was self-reported, which could introduce errors.

The next step will be larger studies that include more diverse participants to confirm and extend these findings.

Study details, background and design:

The study included 220 adults (average age of 73 years; 54% men, 46% women, 88% white and 12% Black) living in St. Louis, Missouri, who did not have dementia when they enrolled in the study.
Data was collected over a nine-year period, from 2016 to 2024, as part of the Driving Real-World In-Vehicle Evaluation System (DRIVES) project based at Washington University in St. Louis.
Participants were monitored for continuous in-vehicle driving metrics, such as trip frequency, distance and destination, as well as safety events, including time spent speeding, collisions, hard braking or hard cornering.
All participants had brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to measure white matter hyperintensities at enrollment, which was around the time they started their driving assessments. About half (102 participants) had a second MRI scan at least 12 months after their first scan. Participants also underwent annual clinical and cognitive assessments.
Researchers analyzed the relationship between total and regional white matter hyperintensities and driving patterns and safety.
Statistical models were used to adjust for demographics, social/economic factors and health factors.

Patient perspective: A caregiver’s view of driving and cognitive decline

For Larry Duncan, a retired business owner from Pinehurst, North Carolina, driving was part of his independence. But subtle changes began to appear before his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2023. “Larry was fine driving in familiar areas,” recalls his wife and caregiver, Pam Duncan. “But in new places where he had to make quick decisions, he became anxious.”

As his cognitive challenges progressed, Duncan’s doctor advised him to stop driving, a decision she describes as heartbreaking but necessary.

“In early-stage cognitive impairment, symptoms can be subtle, and driving is one of them,” said Pam Duncan, who now volunteers for the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. “Don’t ignore these changes. As caregivers, our role is to support independence while having the courage to make tough decisions. You can live well with dementia, but it starts with awareness and action.”

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert Nada El Husseini, M.D., M.H.Sc., FAHA, and multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
Spanish news release with video interview in Spanish.
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association news release: What do we mean by “brain health” and why should you care about it? (March, 2025)
American Heart Association news release: Novel vaccine may hold key to prevent or reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s disease (July, 2023)
American Heart Association health initiative: Brain Health & Healthy Aging Infographic
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

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About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Los hábitos de conducción de los adultos mayores brindan información sobre la salud cerebral y el deterioro cognitivo

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Puntos destacados de la investigación:

Gracias a un estudio realizado a más de 200 adultos durante cinco años, se descubrió que el mayor daño de la materia blanca del cerebro estaba relacionado con la disminución del tiempo al volante, una menor cantidad de viajes, rutas repetitivas y errores cometidos al conducir, en especial en aquellos que posteriormente desarrollaron demencia.
Por el contrario, los adultos de 65 años en adelante que estaban tomando medicamentos para la presión arterial, particularmente inhibidores de ECA, tenían menos probabilidades de mostrar hábitos de conducción riesgosos, a pesar de la presencia de daño cerebral (evidencia de que la materia blanca estaba dañada por la reducción del flujo sanguíneo hacia los tejidos del cerebro).
Los investigadores señalaron que las alteraciones sutiles en los hábitos de conducción diarios pueden ser las primeras señales de alarma de que el cerebro está sufriendo cambios y de que hay un mayor riesgo de demencia. Estas señales pueden aparecer incluso antes que los síntomas cognitivos y de memoria tradicionales.
El daño en la materia blanca de la parte posterior del cerebro, que ayuda a las personas a procesar lo que ven y coordinar los movimientos, se relacionó más estrechamente con la conducción insegura y los accidentes, lo que apunta a un posible indicador de alerta temprana de un mayor riesgo de conducción en los adultos mayores.
Nota: El estudio que se presenta en este comunicado de prensa es un resumen de investigación. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association y la American Stroke Association no son revisados por expertos, y los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como un artículo completo en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

Prohibida su divulgación hasta las 4 a. m. hora central/5 a. m. ET del jueves, 29 de enero del 2026

DALLAS, en. 29 del 2026. Los hábitos de conducción de adultos mayores revelaron datos sobre su salud cerebral y podrían ser las primeras señales de alarma de deterioro cognitivo o demencia, según un estudio preliminar que se presentará en The American Stroke Association del 2026 (sitio web en inglés). El encuentro es en Nueva Orleans, del 4 al 6 de febrero del 2026, y es un evento de estreno mundial dedicado al avance científico en materia de salud cerebral y ataques o derrames cerebrales.

“Los hábitos de conducción de adultos mayores pueden revelar los primeros cambios en la salud cerebral. Con qué frecuencia conducen las personas, a dónde van y cuánto varían sus rutas pueden ser señales de daño subyacente en la materia blanca del cerebro, la cual está relacionada con el deterioro cognitivo y la demencia”, afirma la autora del estudio Chia-Ling Phuah, M.D., M.M.Sc., que es profesora asociada de cuidado neurocrítico y codirectora de Neuro Analytics Center (Centro de Análisis Neurológico) en Barrow Neurological Institute (Instituto Neurológico Barrow) en Phoenix. “Estos descubrimientos sugieren que incluso las variaciones más pequeñas en los patrones de conducción diarios pueden ofrecer evidencia importante sobre los cambios del cerebro, a veces, antes de que se perciban los síntomas cognitivos y de memoria tradicionales”.

Según American Heart Association 2026 Heart and Stroke Statistics (sitio web en inglés), casi 6.9 millones o 1 de cada 9 (10.9%) adultos de 65 años en adelante en Estados Unidos vivían con la enfermedad de Alzheimer en 2024.

Los investigadores analizaron los hábitos de conducción de 220 adultos voluntarios, de 65 años en adelante, que vivían de forma independiente en St. Louis, Misuri. Al comienzo del estudio, se realizaron evaluaciones cognitivas detalladas que indicaron que los participantes no tenían demencia. Se colocaron sensores en los autos de los participantes para registrar su comportamiento al conducir (que incluye velocidad, choques, frenadas bruscas y giros abruptos) durante más de cinco años. Además, en el primer año del estudio, los investigadores realizaron análisis cerebrales por imágenes para evaluar cambios en la materia blanca del cerebro, en específico hiperintensidades en la materia blanca: áreas de materia blanca dañadas por la reducción del flujo sanguíneo hacia los tejidos cerebrales.

El análisis reveló lo siguiente:

Los adultos mayores que tenían más hiperintensidades en la materia blanca tendían a conducir menos y mostraban un descenso más intenso en la voluntad o habilidad para cambiar las rutas y hábitos de conducción.
Luego de más de cinco años de seguimiento, 17% de los participantes desarrollaron deterioro cognitivo y la mayoría de ellos fueron posteriormente diagnosticados con la enfermedad de Alzheimer.
Entre el 17% de los participantes que desarrollaron deterioro cognitivo, una mayor carga de hiperintensidades en la materia blanca, que se mostraba en los análisis cerebrales por imágenes, se relacionó con una mayor probabilidad de realizar prácticas de conducción peligrosas, como frenadas bruscas, y con un aumento en la cantidad de choques.
“Los participantes con hiperintensidades en la materia blanca ubicada en la región posterior del cerebro, que se encarga de procesar lo que las personas ven y cómo se mueven, corrían un mayor riesgo de chocar que aquellos que presentaban cambios en otras regiones del cerebro. Esto los hacía más propensos a experimentar episodios de conducción peligrosos y accidentes automovilísticos con el paso del tiempo” explicó Phuah.
Los participantes que tomaban medicamentos para controlar la presión arterial alta, en especial, inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina (ECA), presentaban una menor probabilidad de conducir de manera riesgosa en comparación con los que no tomaban ninguna medicación para la presión arterial.

En resumen, los descubrimientos del estudio sugieren que monitorear el comportamiento de conducción con registradores comerciales de datos colocados en el vehículo pueden ayudar a identificar adultos mayores que corren un mayor riesgo de conducir de manera peligrosa, perder independencia y sufrir problemas cognitivos, señaló Phuah.

“Un descubrimiento realmente prometedor fue que las personas que tomaban medicamentos para la presión arterial, particularmente inhibidores de ECA, tendían a mantener hábitos de conducción más seguros incluso cuando los escaneos de sus cerebros revelaban un daño mayor. Este efecto se observó sin importar si sus niveles de presión arterial eran normales o no”, dijo Phuah. “Esto sugiere que estos medicamentos pueden ayudar a mantener la salud cerebral a medida que envejecemos”.

La Dra. Nada El Husseini, M.H.Sc., FAHA, presidenta de la declaración científica de 2023 de la Asociación Americana del Corazón, Deterioro cognitivo tras un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico y hemorrágico (sitio web en inglés) afirmó: “Lo sorprendente de estos hallazgos es que las personas que tomaban inhibidores de la ECA eran menos propensas a sufrir deterioro en su capacidad para conducir, a pesar de la gravedad de la enfermedad de la sustancia blanca. El impacto de los inhibidores de ECA sobre la función cognitiva y la seguridad al conducir en personas que sufren una enfermedad en la materia blanca necesita una investigación más profunda. Además, estos resultados sugieren que se podría considerar la posibilidad de realizar pruebas cognitivas y de imagen cerebral a las personas con dificultades para conducir”. El Husseini es profesor asociado de neurología en el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Duke en Durham, Carolina del Norte, y no participó en este estudio.

La presión arterial normal es menor que 120/80, y se recomienda tratamiento para las personas con niveles de presión arterial de 140/90 mmHg o más (hipertensión en etapa 2). Investigaciones recientes confirman que la presión arterial afecta a la salud cerebral, incluidas las funciones cognitivas y la demencia, por lo que se recomienda un tratamiento temprano para las personas diagnosticadas con hipertensión arterial con el fin de mantener la salud cerebral y las funciones cognitivas, según la Guía sobre hipertensión arterial de 2025 de la American Heart Association (sitio web en inglés).

Sin embargo, hay algunas limitaciones: el estudio se realizó con un grupo reducido de adultos, en su mayoría blancos y con estudios universitarios; por ende, es probable que los resultados no apliquen a personas con orígenes o experiencias más diversas. Además, los participantes informaron por sí mismos el uso de las medicaciones, lo que pudo haber generado errores.

El próximo paso es realizar estudios más extensos que incluyan participantes más diversos para confirmar o ampliar estos descubrimientos.

Detalles, antecedentes y diseño del estudio:

El estudio se realizó con 220 adultos (edad promedio de 73 años; 54% hombres, 46% mujeres, 88% blancos y 12% negros) con residencia en St. Louis, Misuri, que no padecían demencia cuando se inscribieron al estudio.
Los datos se recopilaron durante un período de nueve años, de 2016 a 2024, como parte del proyecto Driving Real-World In-Vehicle Evaluation System (DRIVES) con sede en la Universidad de Washington en St. Louis.
Se supervisó a los participantes para obtener métricas continuas de conducción en el vehículo, como la frecuencia de los viajes, la distancia y el destino, así como incidentes relacionados con la seguridad, como el tiempo dedicado a conducir a exceso de velocidad, colisiones, frenadas bruscas o giros pronunciados.
Todos los participantes se realizaron resonancias magnéticas cerebrales (RM) para medir las hiperintensidades de la sustancia blanca en el momento de la inscripción, que fue aproximadamente cuando comenzaron sus evaluaciones de conducción. Aproximadamente la mitad (102 participantes) se realizaron una segunda RM al menos 12 meses después de la primera. Los participantes también se sometieron a evaluaciones clínicas y cognitivas anuales.
Los investigadores analizaron la relación entre las hiperintensidades totales y regionales de la sustancia blanca y los patrones de conducción y la seguridad.
Se utilizaron modelos estadísticos para ajustar los factores demográficos, socioeconómicos y de salud.

Perspectiva del paciente: la opinión de un cuidador sobre la conducción y el deterioro cognitivo

Para Larry Duncan, un empresario jubilado de Pinehurst, Carolina del Norte, conducir era parte de su independencia. Pero empezaron a aparecer cambios sutiles antes de que le diagnosticaran Alzheimer en 2023. “Larry conducía sin problemas en zonas que conocía bien”, recuerda su esposa y cuidadora, Pam Duncan. “Pero en lugares nuevos, donde tenía que tomar decisiones rápidas, se ponía nervioso”.

A medida que sus problemas cognitivos avanzaban, el médico de Duncan le aconsejó que dejara de conducir, una decisión que ella describe como desgarradora pero necesaria.

“En las primeras etapas del deterioro cognitivo, los síntomas pueden ser sutiles, y la conducción es uno de ellos”, afirma Pam Duncan, quien ahora es voluntaria de la American Stroke Association, una división de la American Heart Association. “No ignoren esos cambios. Como cuidadores, nuestra función es apoyar la independencia y, al mismo tiempo, tener el valor de tomar decisiones difíciles. Se puede vivir bien con demencia, pero hay que empezar por tomar conciencia y actuar”.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el resumen.

Las afirmaciones y conclusiones de los estudios presentados en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association y la American Stroke Association son exclusivas de los autores y no constituyen necesariamente la política ni la posición de la Asociación. La Asociación no ofrece ninguna declaración ni garantía de ningún tipo en cuanto a su exactitud o confiabilidad. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la Asociación no son revisados por expertos, sino que los paneles de revisión independientes los seleccionan y consideran en función del potencial que tengan de ser un aporte a la diversidad de temas y opiniones científicos analizados en la reunión. Los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como un artículo completo en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

La Asociación recibe más de un 85% de sus ingresos de fuentes ajenas a empresas. Estas fuentes incluyen contribuciones de personas particulares, fundaciones y patrimonios, así como ganancias por inversiones e ingresos por la venta de nuestros materiales informativos. Las empresas (incluidas las farmacéuticas, los fabricantes de dispositivos y otras compañías) también realizan donaciones a la Asociación. La Asociación tiene políticas estrictas para evitar que las donaciones influyan en el contenido científico y en las posturas de sus políticas. La información financiera general está disponible aquí (sitio web en inglés).

Recursos adicionales:

En la columna derecha del enlace del comunicado de prensa encontrará fragmentos de una entrevista en vídeo con un experto voluntario de la American Stroke Association, Rosalba "Rose" Hernandez, Ph.D., FAHA, así como otros recursos multimedia.
Vínculo al resumen (sitio web en inglés) en el Planificador del programa en línea de la Conferencia Internacional sobre Accidentes Cerebrovasculares 2026 de la American Stroke Association (sitio web en inglés)
Comunicado de prensa en inglés con una entrevista en vídeo.
Nuevo del 01/21/2026: Según las Estadísticas de Enfermedades Cardíacas y Accidentes Cerebrovasculares de 2026 de la American Heart Association, el accidente cerebrovascular es ahora la cuarta causa principal de muerte en Estados Unidos. Obtenga más información en www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Centro de información sobre accidentes cerebrovasculares en Español. Enlace a hojas informativas adicionales sobre temas de salud.
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: ¿Qué es la salud cerebral y por qué debería importarnos? | American Heart Association (marzo del 2025)
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Novel vaccine may hold key to prevent or reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s disease (sitio web en inglés) (julio del 2023)
Iniciativa de salud de la American Heart Association: Salud Cerebral y Envejecimiento Saludable - Infografía
Para ver más noticias sobre la Conferencia Internacional sobre Ataque o Derrame Cerebral del 2026 de la American Stroke Association, síganos en X @HeartNews (sitio web en inglés) #ISC26

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Acerca de la American Stroke Association

La American Stroke Association se dedica a salvar a las personas del ataque o derrame cerebral, la segunda causa de muerte en el mundo y una de las principales causas de discapacidades graves. Colaboramos con millones de voluntarios para financiar investigaciones innovadoras, luchar por mejores políticas de salud pública y proporcionar herramientas e información que salvan vidas para evitar y tratar el ataque o derrame cerebral. La Asociación, con sede en Dallas, se fundó oficialmente en 1998 como una división de la American Heart Association. Para obtener más información o sumarse a nuestra misión, llame al 1-888-4STROKE o visite derramecerebral.org. Síganos en Facebook y X.

Para consultas con los medios de comunicación de la American Stroke Association:

Comunicaciones y relaciones con los medios de la American Heart Association: 214-706-1173,ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

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Los supervivientes de ataque o derrame cerebral se sienten menos solos y tienen una mejor recuperación si expresan sus sentimientos

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Puntos destacados de la investigación:

Cuando se los evalúo un año después de haber sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral, los supervivientes, quienes pensaban que no podían hablar de sus sentimientos o de lo que les daba miedo respecto de su salud con amigos o familiares, aseguraron que se sentían más solos y les costaba mucho más recuperarse, tanto física como mentalmente.
Para identificar pacientes que tendrían mayor nivel de discapacidad y peores funciones físicas un año después del ataque o derrame cerebral, el no poder compartir lo que sentían con familiares y amigos era tan importante como la gravedad del ataque o derrame cerebral.
Los cuidadores que acompañan, la familia y los profesionales de la salud que generan un espacio seguro para que los supervivientes puedan compartir sus sentimientos y miedos luego de haber sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral mejoran el proceso de recuperación.
Nota: El estudio que se presenta en este comunicado de prensa es un resumen de investigación. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association y la American Stroke Association no se revisan por expertos, y los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publican como artículos completos en una revista profesional científica revisada por expertos.

Prohibida su divulgación hasta las 4 a. m. hora central/5 a. m. ET del jueves 29 del 2026

DALLAS, 29 de enero del 2026. El proceso de recuperación cognitivo y físico de los supervivientes de ataque o derrame cerebral que no podían compartir sus pensamientos y sentimientos sobre su estado y el futuro era mucho más lento, según un estudio preliminar que se presentará en la Conferencia Internacional sobre el Ataque o Derrame Cerebral 2026 de The American Stroke Association (la Asociación Americana del Derrame Cerebral) (sitio web en inglés). La conferencia es en Nueva Orleans, entre el 4 y 6 de febrero del 2026 y es un evento mundial cuyo fin es potenciar los conocimientos sobre la salud del cerebro y los ataques o derrames cerebrales.

“Cuando se trata de lidiar con un estrés y un trauma importantes, muchas personas se benefician de contar con un entorno social que les brinde apoyo y en el que puedan hablar sobre lo que están pasando”, afirmó la autora principal del estudio, E. Alison Holman, M.D. y profesora de enfermería de la Facultad de Enfermería Sue & Bill Gross de la Universidad de California en Irvine. “Sin embargo, el hecho de pensar que no podían expresar sus pensamientos o sentimientos, porque temían incomodar a los demás o que no les prestaran atención, terminaba afectando su salud”.

Los científicos investigaron si las limitaciones sociales respecto de expresar sentimientos y emociones podían predecir la soledad y la discapacidad funcional y cognitiva luego de un año del ataque o derrame cerebral. El estudio, denominado STRONG (Stroke, sTress, RehabilitatiON y Genetics), se realizó en 28 centros de Estados Unidos y participaron más de 700 personas. En los resultados de STRONG ya se demostró que la recuperación un año luego del ataque o derrame cerebral era peor si la persona había experimentado niveles altos de estrés y trauma antes del ataque o derrame cerebral, si había tenido síntomas de estrés postraumático mientras estaba internada luego del derrame o si tenía ciertas variaciones genéticas.

Durante el presente estudio, los investigadores evaluaron la percepción de los participantes sobre las limitaciones sociales 3 meses después de haber sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral, tras el período inicial de recuperación. Los supervivientes identificaron alguien del cual dependían en su día a día, como un familiar que cumplía el rol de cuidador, y respondieron las siguientes dos preguntas sobre su relación con dicha persona: “Durante la última semana, ¿qué tan a menudo sintió que no quería escuchar sus pensamientos o sentimientos sobre el ataque o derrame cerebral o sobre su miedo a los problemas de salud futuros?” y “¿Con qué frecuencia sintió que tenía que ocultar sus sentimientos sobre el ataque o derrame cerebral o sus miedos sobre los problemas de salud futuros porque esa persona se sentía incómoda o molesta si los compartía?”.

Los resultados del análisis demostraron que, un año después del ataque o derrame cerebral, las personas que sentían que no podían expresar sus sentimientos abiertamente a los 90 días tenían más probabilidades de enfrentarse a varios desafíos.

Durante la última semana, aseguraron que se sentían más solas, aisladas o no se sentían acompañadas.
Les costaba más realizar las actividades diarias, como alimentarse o bañarse (necesitaban más ayuda, en general).
Les costaba más poner en práctica sus habilidades cognitivas, como la memoria, la atención y el lenguaje.

“Al momento de predecir la discapacidad general y las funciones físicas un año después, el nivel de limitación social tras 90 días fue tan eficaz como la gravedad inicial del ataque o derrame cerebral”, afirmó Holman. “Para muchos profesionales de la salud especializados en ataques o derrames cerebrales, la gravedad del ataque o derrame cerebral es el aspecto fundamental para comprender qué tan bien estará la persona”.

También alentó a otros investigadores sobre el ataque o derrame cerebral a preguntarse qué sucede en los entornos sociales de los pacientes poco después de sufrir un ataque o derrame cerebral, con el fin de comprender si podría estar afectando el proceso de recuperación y para brindar ayuda.

Para los cuidadores, Holman aconseja que generen un espacio seguro para que los pacientes puedan hablar sobre el ataque o derrame cerebral, que los dejen expresar sus sentimientos y lo que están experimentando para que puedan procesar lo que ha sucedido y lo que está sucediendo. Sin embargo, aseguró que no deberían presionarlos, ya que no todo el mundo necesita verbalizar sus emociones. Por último, destacó que proporcionarles un espacio seguro para expresarse, si así lo necesitan, es fundamental.

Los investigadores señalaron que, si estos resultados se confirman en futuros estudios, se podrían diseñar intervenciones para ayudar a que los supervivientes de derrames cerebrales no enfrenten tantos desafíos sociales.

La experta y voluntaria de la American Stroke Association, Amytis Towfighi, M.D., FAHA, explicó, “Si bien se reconoce cada vez más que el apoyo social es beneficioso luego de un ataque o derrame cerebral, poco se sabe sobre cómo las limitaciones sociales afectan la recuperación. Este estudio es el primero que evalúa su efecto en los aspectos psicológicos, cognitivos y funcionales a largo plazo. Los hallazgos nos brindan información valiosa que puede servir de base para diseñar intervenciones que mejoren la recuperación tras un ataque o derrame cerebral”. Towfighi también es profesora de neurología y ciencias de la población y la salud pública en la Facultad de Medicina Keck de la Universidad del Sur de California y directora de servicios neurológicos del Departamento de Servicios de Salud del condado de Los Ángeles.

Detalles, antecedentes y diseño del estudio:

En el estudio, participaron 763 personas (con una edad promedio de 63 años, de los cuales un 41,2% eran mujeres y un 69,4% se identificaron como adultos blancos) que se inscribieron en el ensayo mientras estaban internados tras haber sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral leve a moderado.
Formaron parte del estudio STRONG (Stroke, sTress, RehabilitatiON, y Genetics), que fue un estudio multicéntrico y detallado en el que se analizó el primer año de recuperación luego de un ataque o derrame cerebral y que se llevó a cabo en 28 centros estadounidenses entre 2016 y 2021.
Los investigadores evaluaron a los participantes durante su primera internación y nuevamente después de 3, 6 y 12 meses del ataque o derrame cerebral. Al cabo de un año, se evaluaron las funciones físicas y cognitivas mediante la escala de Rankin modificada y los resultados de la Evaluación Cognitiva de Montreal, realizada durante una llamada telefónica.
El sentimiento de soledad se midió con tres aspectos de la escala de soledad de la Universidad de California en Los Ángeles. Dicho sentimiento se evaluó en cada seguimiento, a los 3, 6 y 12 meses luego del ataque o derrame cerebral. La escala de soledad de la Universidad de California en Los Ángeles evaluó el nivel de soledad de los pacientes mediante una escala de 5 puntos, que iba desde “nunca” hasta “siempre”, por lo que los puntajes más altos significaba un sentimiento más frecuente de soledad.
A los 90 días, el grado de malestar que expresaron los supervivientes de ataque o derrame cerebral respecto de sus preocupaciones se evaluó con dos aspectos de la Escala de Restricciones Sociales.
Tras controlar la edad, el género, la etnia y la gravedad del ataque o derrame cerebral junto con el estrés entre 2 y 10 días luego del ataque o derrame cerebral, los investigadores analizaron la asociación entre un mayor número de limitaciones sociales a los 3 meses y los niveles de soledad y recuperación al cabo de un año.

Perspectiva del paciente: la importancia del apoyo social tras sufrir un ataque o derrame cerebral

Dipika Aggarwal, una neuróloga de la Kansas City, Misuri, tenía una vida plena cuando, en el 2019, sufrió un ataque o derrame cerebral que cambió todo por completo. Con solo 38 años, pasó de tener una carrera prometedora a pasar meses en rehabilitación intensiva, seguidos de aislamiento durante el confinamiento por la COVID. “Perdí mi vida profesional, mi compromiso terminó y no había garantía de que volviera a trabajar”, recordaba. “Mi salud mental empeoró tanto que empecé a pensar en quitarme la vida. Ni siquiera me di cuenta de que estaba sufriendo una depresión después de un ataque o derrame cerebral”.

Aggarwal también explicó que tardó meses en sentirse cómoda para hablar de su ataque o derrame cerebral. Cuando finalmente pudo expresarse, al principio con la familia y luego en las redes sociales, todo cambió.

“Compartir mi historia me ayudó a sanar. Me dio esperanza escuchar a otras personas y sentirme menos sola” comentó Aggarwal, que ahora es voluntaria de la American Stroke Association, una división de la American Heart Association. “Los efectos sociales, económicos y psicológicos de la recuperación son enormes, y no hablamos lo suficiente de ellos. Mi consejo para otros supervivientes de ataque o derrame cerebral es que no guarden silencio sobre lo que les ha pasado. Busquen ayuda, permítanse ser vulnerables y conecten con personas que entiendan lo que les sucede”.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el resumen.

Recursos adicionales:

En la columna derecha del enlace del comunicado de prensa encontrará fragmentos de una entrevista en vídeo con un experto voluntario de la American Stroke Association, Rosalba "Rose" Hernandez, Ph.D., FAHA así como otros recursos multimedia.
Vínculo al resumen (sitio web en inglés) en el planificador del programa en línea de la Conferencia Internacional sobre el Ataque o Derrame Cerebral del 2026 de la American Stroke Association (sitio web en inglés)
Comunicado de prensa en inglés con una entrevista en vídeo.
Nuevo del 01/21/2026: Según las Estadísticas de Enfermedades Cardíacas y Accidentes Cerebrovasculares de 2026 de la American Heart Association, el accidente cerebrovascular es ahora la cuarta causa principal de muerte en Estados Unidos. Obtenga más información en www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Centro de información sobre accidentes cerebrovasculares en Español. Enlace a hojas informativas adicionales sobre temas de salud.
Comunicado de prensa de las declaraciones científicas de la American Heart Association: La depresión es común luego de un ataque o derrame cerebral y afecta a 1/3 de los supervivientes (sitio web en inglés) (Feb. del 2023)
Información de salud de la American Heart Association: La vida luego del ataque o derrame cerebral
Información de salud de la American Stroke Association: Red de apoyo de la American Stroke Association (sitio web en inglés)
Para ver más noticias sobre la Conferencia Internacional sobre el Ataque o Derrame Cerebral del 2026 de la American Heart Association, síganos en X @HeartNews (sitio web en inglés), #ISC26

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Acerca de la American Stroke Association

Para consultas con los medios de comunicación o el punto de vista experto de la American Stroke Association:

Comunicaciones y relaciones con los medios de la American Heart Association: 214-706-1173,ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

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Las mujeres con antecedentes de ataque o derrame cerebral tienen el doble de probabilidad de sufrir otro durante el embarazo o al poco tiempo de este

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Puntos destacados de la investigación:

Según un análisis de una gran base de datos nacional de registros médicos electrónicos, las sobrevivientes de ataques o derrames cerebrales tuvieron más del doble de probabilidades de sufrir otro ataque o derrame cerebral durante el embarazo y en las seis semanas posteriores al parto, en comparación con mujeres sin antecedentes de ataque o derrame cerebral.
Además, el riesgo de un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico durante el embarazo y el período posparto temprano fue de un 82% más probable en mujeres que sufrieron ataques cardíacos previos y un 25% más probable en mujeres con obesidad.
Nota: El estudio que se presenta en este comunicado de prensa es un resumen de investigación. Los resúmenes que se presentan en las reuniones científicas de la American Heart Association (Asociación Americana del Corazón)/American Stroke Association (Asociación Americana del Derrame Cerebral) no han sido revisados por expertos y los hallazgos se consideran preliminares hasta que se publiquen como artículos completos en una revista científica revisada por expertos.

Prohibida su divulgación hasta las 4 a. m. hora central/5 a. m. ET del jueves 29 de enero del 2026

DALLAS, 29 de enero del 2026 — Haber sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral provocado por vasos sanguíneos obstruidos (accidente cerebrovascular isquémico) duplicó más la probabilidad que tiene una mujer embarazada de sufrir otro ataque o derrame cerebral durante el embarazo y dentro de las seis semanas posteriores al parto, según un estudio preliminar que se presentará en la Conferencia Internacional sobre Ataques o Derrames Cerebrales del 2026 de la American Stroke Association (sitio web en inglés). La reunión se llevará a cabo en Nueva Orleans del 4 al 6 de febrero del 2026, y corresponde a una reunión mundial de primer nivel para investigadores y profesionales de la salud dedicados a la ciencia de los ataques o derrames cerebrales y la salud cerebral.

“Una pregunta frecuente para las mujeres es si arriesgarse a un embarazo tras un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. Nuestro análisis demostró que las mujeres tienen un mayor riesgo de sufrir un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico recurrente durante el embarazo y en las seis semanas posteriores al parto, y el aumento del riesgo no está influenciado por otros factores de riesgo”, comentó el autor principal del estudio, Adnan I. Qureshi, M.D., un profesor de neurología en la Universidad de Misuri en Columbia, Misuri y fundador de Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institutes. “Ahora las mujeres y sus profesionales de la salud pueden tomar decisiones más fundamentadas sobre los riesgos asociados con el embarazo. Las mujeres que han sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral y quedan embarazadas necesitan atención adicional para asegurarse de que obtendrán el mayor nivel de atención con el objetivo de reducir el riesgo de sufrir otro”.

Mediante el uso de registros médicos electrónicos provenientes de hospitales en todo EE. UU., los investigadores analizaron el riesgo de sufrir nuevos accidentes cerebrovasculares isquémicos en mujeres de entre 15 y 50 años, con y sin antecedentes de ataque o derrame cerebral, que habían dado a luz recientemente (considerado el período de posparto temprano). Compararon las tasas de ataques o derrames cerebrales desde el 2015 al 2025 en mujeres que han sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral recurrente durante el embarazo o poco después de dar a luz con las otras mujeres que habían sufrido su primer ataque o derrame cerebral durante el mismo período.

El análisis reveló lo siguiente:

La tasa de ataques o derrames cerebrales fue mayor en las mujeres embarazadas que habían sufrido un ataque o derrame cerebral anterior en comparación con aquellas sin antecedentes de ello: 415 nuevos accidentes cerebrovasculares isquémicos entre 1,192 mujeres embarazadas que tuvieron un ataque o derrame cerebral previo (un 34.82%) en comparación con 737 nuevos ataques o derrames cerebrales entre 219,287 (un 0.34%) mujeres embarazadas sin antecedentes de un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico.
Entre 1,192 mujeres embarazadas con antecedentes de ataque o derrame cerebral, 415 nuevos ataques o derrames cerebrales sucedieron durante el embarazo o poco tiempo después del parto.
De las 219,287 mujeres embarazadas sin antecedentes de un ataque o derrame cerebral anterior, 737 nuevos ataques o derrames cerebrales ocurrieron durante el mismo período.
Luego de ajustar los datos demográficos y los factores de salud, como raza, otras afecciones médicas y medicamentos, las mujeres que tuvieron un ataque o derrame cerebral anteriormente tenían más del doble de probabilidades de sufrir un segundo ataque o derrame cerebral durante el embarazo y en el período de posparto temprano en comparación con aquellas que no habían sufrido uno.
El riesgo de un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico durante el embarazo y en el período inicial de posparto fue de un 82% más probable entre las mujeres embarazadas que sufrieron un ataque cardíaco previo y un 25% más probable en mujeres con obesidad.

Según Jennifer Lewey, M.D., M.P.H., presidenta del comité de redacción de la declaración científica del 2024 de la American Heart Association: Opportunities in the Postpartum Period to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (Oportunidades en el período de posparto para disminuir el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares después de resultados adversos del embarazo), “los ataques o derrames cerebrales durante el embarazo o el período inicial de posparto pueden tener consecuencias devastadoras a largo plazo para la madre y su familia. Los resultados de este estudio nos brindan una oportunidad para pensar sobre cómo prevenir los ataques o derrames cerebrales maternos entre aquellas que tienen un mayor riesgo. Las mujeres que han sufrido un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico deberían recibir asesoría previa a la concepción para analizar el riesgo de ataque o derrame cerebral durante el embarazo y la reducción de los riesgos. Por otra parte, un equipo interdisciplinario de neurólogos y obstetras puede elaborar un plan de vigilancia y tratamiento durante el embarazo y el período de posparto”. Lewey también es directora del Penn Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program y profesora adjunta de medicina en la Facultad de Medicina Perelman de la Universidad de Pensilvania en Filadelfia y no estuvo involucrada en este estudio.

Los autores del estudio mencionan que el riesgo de sufrir otro ataque o derrame cerebral durante el embarazo y poco tiempo después del parto significa que los esfuerzos preventivos deben intensificarse para las mujeres con antecedentes de accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. Las investigaciones futuras tendrán que explorar específicamente cómo reducir el riesgo de un segundo ataque o derrame cerebral en este grupo de mujeres. Identificar la causa del primer ataque o derrame cerebral, revisar los medicamentos durante el embarazo, controlar la presión arterial, tener una dieta saludable y realizar actividad física regular son estrategias comprobadas para reducir el riesgo de ataques o derrames cerebrales adicionales.

“Se debe centrar la atención en el hecho de que estos son embarazos de riesgo bastante alto. Las mujeres embarazadas con antecedentes de ataque o derrame cerebral deben controlarse en centros de salud que tengan experiencia en embarazos de alto riesgo. No existen pautas clínicas para el control de estos embarazos de alto riesgo. Esperamos que este estudio promueva la identificación y categorización de estas mujeres dentro del grupo de embarazos de alto riesgo para que puedan tener un mejor nivel de atención desde el inicio”, comentó Qureshi.

El estudio es un análisis observacional que se sustenta en datos de una gran base de datos de registros médicos electrónicos, lo que constituye una limitación de los hallazgos.

Detalles, antecedentes y diseño del estudio:

El análisis incluyó a 220,479 mujeres embarazadas (de 15 a 50 años) con y sin antecedentes de un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico.
El 60.74% eran mujeres de raza blanca, el 21.81% mujeres de raza negra, el 1.34% mujeres asiáticas, el 0.17% mujeres nativas estadounidenses y el 15.94% pertenecía a otras razas.
Los investigadores utilizaron la Oracle Health Real-World Data, una gran base de datos de registros médicos electrónicos de EE. UU., para analizar la tasa de accidentes cerebrovasculares isquémicos en mujeres embarazadas entre el 2015 y el 2025. Compararon la tasa de segundos ataques o derrames cerebrales durante el embarazo y el período posparto con la tasa de primeros ataques o derrames cerebrales en el mismo período.

Perspectiva de las pacientes: embarazo después de un ataque o derrame cerebral

Leslie Jordan estaba iniciando su carrera de derecho en Charlotte, Carolina del Norte, cuando sufrió un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico que cambió su vida poco tiempo después de dar a luz a su primer hijo en el 2018. Lo que inició como un momento alegre se convirtió en una experiencia aterradora. La recuperación fue lenta y desafiante, marcada por pequeñas victorias como poder tomar a su bebé en brazos, dar sus primeros pasos y, años después, volver a conducir.

Cuando Jordan quedó embarazada nuevamente en el 2025, ella sabía que este embarazo tenía un riesgo importante. Ella trabajó estrechamente con su obstetra y neurólogo para formar un equipo de especialistas y crearon un plan proactivo que incluía inyecciones diarias de anticoagulantes, aspirina infantil, ejercicios y una dieta que incluía proteínas magras y alimentos integrales.

“Después de mi ataque o derrame cerebral, sabía que este embarazo sería de alto riesgo. Me enfoqué en formar un equipo de atención que entendiera mis riesgos y que pudiera apoyarme en cada paso del camino”, comentó Jordan, quien actualmente participa como voluntaria de la American Stroke Association, una división de la American Heart Association. “Enfóquese en lo que puede controlar y sea amable con usted misma. Es posible tener un embarazo saludable luego de un evento tan aterrador como un ataque o derrame cerebral”.

Los coautores, las divulgaciones y las fuentes de financiamiento se indican en el resumen.

Recursos adicionales:

En la columna derecha del enlace del comunicado de prensa encontrará fragmentos de una entrevista en vídeo con un experto voluntario de la American Stroke Association,Gladys P. Velarde, MD, FACC, FAHA, así como otros recursos multimedia.
Vínculo al resumen (sitio web en inglés) en el Registro en línea del programa de la Conferencia Internacional sobre Ataques o Derrames Cerebrales del 2026 de la American Stroke Association (sitio web en inglés)
Comunicado de prensa en inglés con una entrevista en vídeo.
Nuevo del 01/21/2026: Según las Estadísticas de Enfermedades Cardíacas y Accidentes Cerebrovasculares de 2026 de la American Heart Association, el accidente cerebrovascular es ahora la cuarta causa principal de muerte en Estados Unidos. Obtenga más información en www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Centro de información sobre accidentes cerebrovasculares en Español. Enlace a hojas informativas adicionales sobre temas de salud. (sitio web en inglés)
Comunicado de prensa de la American Heart Association: Los factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares tienen repercusiones negativas en la salud durante el embarazo y después de este (Octubre del 2025) (sitio web en inglés)
Declaración científica de la American Heart Association: Los factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardíacas en las mujeres destacan la necesidad de aumentar la concientización y prevención (Febrero del 2024) (sitio web en inglés)
Declaración de política de la American Heart Association: Llamado a la acción: salud materna y salvar a las madres (Septiembre del 2021) (sitio web en inglés)
Información de salud de la American Heart Association: Recursos y herramientas sobre embarazo y salud materna
Para ver más noticias sobre la Conferencia Internacional sobre Ataques o Derrames Cerebrales del 2026 de la American Stroke Association, síganos en X @HeartNews (sitio web en inglés) #ISC26

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Acerca de la American Stroke Association

La American Stroke Association está comprometida con la prevención de los ataques o derrames cerebrales, la segunda causa de muerte en el mundo y una de las principales causas de discapacidades graves. Colaboramos con millones de voluntarios para financiar investigaciones innovadoras, luchar por mejores políticas de salud pública y proporcionar herramientas e información que salvan vidas para evitar y tratar el ataque o derrame cerebral. La Asociación, con sede en Dallas, se fundó oficialmente en 1998 como una división de la American Heart Association. Para obtener más información o sumarse a nuestra misión, llame al 1-888-4STROKE o visite derramecerebral.org. Síganos en Facebook y X.

Para consultas de los medios de comunicación y el punto de vista experto de la American Stroke Association:

Comunicaciones y relaciones con los medios de la American Heart Association: 214-706-1173,ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

Para consultas públicas: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org (sitio web en inglés) y derramecerebral.org

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Women with stroke history twice as likely to have another during or soon after pregnancy

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Female stroke survivors were more than twice as likely as their stroke-free counterparts to have another stroke while pregnant and in the six weeks after childbirth, according to an analysis of a large national database of electronic health records.
In addition, the risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as full manuscripts in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother’s odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.

“A common question for women is whether to risk pregnancy after a previous ischemic stroke. Our analysis found that women are at a greater risk of recurrent ischemic stroke during pregnancy and in the six weeks after giving birth, and the increased risk is not influenced by other risk factors,” said study lead author Adnan I. Qureshi, M.D., a professor of neurology at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and founder of Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institutes. “Now, women and their health care professionals can make a more informed decision about the risks related to pregnancy. Women who have experienced a stroke and become pregnant need additional attention to ensure they get the highest level of care to reduce their risk of another stroke.”

Using electronic health records from hospitals across the U.S., researchers analyzed the risk of new ischemic stroke in women ages 15 to 50 with and without a history of previous stroke who had recently delivered a baby (considered the early postpartum period). They compared the rates of strokes from 2015 to 2025 in women who had a recurrent stroke in pregnancy or soon after childbirth with the other women who had a first-time stroke during the same period.

The analysis found:

The stroke rate was higher in pregnant women who had a prior stroke compared to those who had been stroke-free: 415 new ischemic strokes among 1,192 pregnant women who had a previous stroke (34.82%) compared to 737 new strokes among 219,287 (0.34%) pregnant women without a history of ischemic stroke.
Among 1,192 pregnant women with a history of stroke, 415 new strokes occurred during pregnancy and soon after childbirth.
Out of 219,287 pregnant women without a prior stroke, 737 new strokes occurred during the same period.
After adjusting for demographic and health factors, such as race, other medical conditions and medications, women who had a history of prior stroke were more than twice as likely to have a second stroke during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period compared with those who had no previous stroke.
The risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity.

According to Jennifer Lewey, M.D., M.P.H., chair of the writing committee of the 2024 American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Opportunities in the Postpartum Period to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, “Stroke during pregnancy or the early postpartum period can have devastating long-term consequences for the mother and her family. The results of this study give us an opportunity to think about how to prevent maternal stroke among those at highest risk. Women with prior ischemic stroke should receive pre-conception counseling to discuss stroke risk during pregnancy and risk reduction. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary team of neurologists and obstetricians can develop a surveillance and treatment plan during pregnancy and the postpartum period.” Lewey is also director of the Penn Women’s Cardiovascular Health Program and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia and was not involved in this study.

Study authors say that the risk of having another stroke during pregnancy and soon after childbirth means preventive efforts should be intensified for women with a history of ischemic stroke. Future research will need to explore how specifically to lower the risk of a second stroke in this group of women. Identifying the cause of the first stroke, reviewing medications during pregnancy, managing blood pressure, eating a healthy diet and regular physical activity are proven strategies to reduce the risk of additional strokes.

“Attention should be brought to the fact that this is a very high-risk pregnancy. Women who are pregnant and with a history of stroke should be managed at health care centers that have experience with high-risk pregnancies. There are no clinical guidelines for the management of these high-risk pregnancies. Hopefully, this study will promote the identification and categorization of these women in the high-risk pregnancy group so they can get a higher level of care from the beginning,” Qureshi said.

The study is an observational analysis that relies on data from a large database of electronic health records, which is a limitation of the findings.

Study details, background and design:

The analysis included 220,479 pregnant women (ages 15 to 50 years old) with and without a previous ischemic stroke.
Participants were 60.74% white women, 21.81% Black women, 1.34% Asian women, .17% Native American women and 15.94% other race.
Researchers used the Oracle Health Real-World Data, a large U.S. national database of electronic health records, to analyze the rate of ischemic stroke in pregnant women between 2015 and 2025. They compared the rate of second stroke during pregnancy and in the postpartum period with the rate of first-time stroke during the same period.

Patient Perspective: Pregnancy after stroke

Leslie Jordan was starting out her law career in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she experienced a life-altering ischemic stroke shortly after giving birth to her first child in 2018. What began as a joyful moment turned into a frightening experience. Recovery was slow and challenging, marked by small victories like holding her baby, taking her first steps and, years later, driving again.

When Jordan became pregnant again in 2025, she knew this pregnancy carried significant risk. She worked closely with her obstetrician and neurologist to assemble a team of specialists and created a proactive plan that included daily blood thinner injections, baby aspirin, exercise and a diet focused on lean proteins and whole foods.

“After my stroke, I knew this pregnancy would be high risk. I focused on building a care team that understood my risks and could support me every step of the way,” said Jordan, who now volunteers for the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. “Focus on what you can control and give yourself grace. It’s possible to have a healthy pregnancy after something as scary as a stroke.”

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed; rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert, Gladys P. Velarde, MD, FACC, FAHA, and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
Spanish news release with video interview in Spanish.
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association news release: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease negatively impact health during, after pregnancy (Oct. 2025)
American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Heart disease risk factors in women highlight need for increased awareness, prevention (Feb. 2024)
American Heart Association policy statement: Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers (Sept. 2021)
American Heart Association health information: Pregnancy and Maternal Health Resources and Tools
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

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About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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Stimulating the brain with electromagnetic therapy after stroke may help reduce disability

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Research Highlights:

Electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy, which targets specific connections in the brain, combined with physical therapy, significantly reduced disability in stroke survivors after 90 days.
An analysis of two small clinical trials suggests that ENTF therapy is safe and works well in reducing overall disability after stroke.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2026 — A type of therapy that stimulates specific brain pathways with electromagnetic pulses combined with physical therapy significantly reduced overall disability in stroke survivors compared to survivors who received sham (inactive) electromagnetic stimulation combined with physical therapy, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

Although advances in stroke treatments have saved lives, many survivors still face disabilities that prevent them from returning to their normal daily activities. According to researchers, one promising treatment, called electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy, stimulates the interconnected networks related to motor movement, cognitive functions and other brain activities.

“These neural networks show electrical disorganization after a stroke. Stimulating these networks with electromagnetic pulse patterns derived from studies in people who have not had a stroke can model and facilitate the reestablishment of normal network organization,” said lead study author Jeffrey L. Saver, M.D., FAHA, who is a distinguished professor, SA vice chair for Clinical Research, and holder of the Carol and James Collins (endowed) chair in the department of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “This therapy has shown beneficial effects upon organized brain electrical activity and, most importantly, was associated with improved functional recovery for patients after stroke.”

Researchers examined the combined data from two double-blind, randomized, controlled studies (meaning both participants and researchers did not know who received actual vs. placebo or sham treatment) to characterize the potential effects of ENTF therapy on reducing disability after ischemic stroke. In total, 124 stroke survivors were included in the analysis: 65 were treated with ENTF therapy, and 59 received an inactive or sham treatment. Participants were enrolled in the study on average 14 days after their stroke occurred and were moderately to severely disabled; the average modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was 3.9 at enrollment. All participants received 40 to 45 sessions of ENTF therapy or sham treatment over 8 to 12 weeks, and both groups received physical therapy during the stimulation sessions. In both trials, participants began ENTF therapy in the hospital and continued with at-home treatments using portable kits. Participants were assessed for overall disability and their motor and cognitive abilities after three months of treatment.

The analysis found:

The percentage of participants who achieved freedom from disability was 22% higher in the ENTF group compared to the group that received the sham treatment (33.8% versus 11.9%, respectively).
Measurable improvements were also seen in ENTF participants’ disability levels across the full range of disability outcomes, with both less moderately to severe disability (mRS of 3-5) and less moderate disability (mRS of 2).
No serious adverse effects were reported among participants who received ENTF therapy.

“It’s clear that we need more effective rehabilitation therapies to fully improve patient outcomes. This promising potential therapy is unique in that it would be able to be conducted at home by the stroke survivor using a portable kit,” Saver said.

American Stroke Association volunteer expert Joseph P. Broderick, M.D., FAHA, said, “This study examines two small trials of electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy for stroke patients. The results are preliminary, highlighting the need for larger trials with balanced participant groups to assess the therapy’s effectiveness. ENTF showed no safety issues, and there’s a strong demand for new recovery methods post-stroke.” Broderick is a professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Gardner Neuroscience Institute, part of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and was not involved in this study.

The main limitation of the study is that it is an analysis of data from two small pilot studies. A single, larger trial is needed to confirm these results.

In the United States, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability, according to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2026 Update. Depending on the part of the brain affected, stroke may impair arm and/or leg movement and activities of daily life among survivors. Motor impairment (arm and/or leg weakness) is the most common complication after stroke.

Study details, background and design:

The study included 124 adults who had an ischemic stroke, and a baseline modified Rankin Score (mRS) of 3.9, indicating moderate to severe disability. Participants’ average age was 58 years and 31% were women.
Data were derived from two double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trials (the BQ3 and EMAGINE trials, conducted between 2021 and 2025). Researchers combined the individual patient data into a single meta-analysis to characterize the potential effects of ENTF therapy on overall disability after stroke.
Participants in these two trials were randomized to receive either ENTF therapy or a sham treatment between four and 21 days after stroke. Sixty-five (65) participants received 40-45 sessions of ENTF therapy, and 59 received the sham intervention. Both groups also received physical therapy as part of their stroke rehab care.
The primary outcome of the analysis was for participants to be disability-free, as measured by an mRS score of 0-1, at 8-12 weeks.

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the abstract.

Additional Resources:

Video interview clips with American Stroke Association volunteer expert Joseph P. Broderick, M.D., FAHA and other multimedia assets are available on the right column of the release link.
Link to abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
New 1/21/2026 - According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org or www.DerrameCerebral.org.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association: Stroke Hub or in Español. Link to additional health topic Fact Sheets.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association health information: Recovery After Stroke
American Stroke Association news release: Brain stimulation did not improve impaired motor skills after stroke (Feb. 2025)
American Stroke Association news release: Nerve stimulation plus intense rehab may improve arm and hand function after stroke (Feb. 2024)
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

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About the American Stroke Association

For Media Inquiries and American Stroke Association Expert Perspective:

American Heart Association Communications & Media Relations: 214-706-1173, ahacommunications@heart.org

Karen Astle: Karen.Astle@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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5 pre-conference symposia scheduled ahead of International Stroke Conference 2026

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:00:00 GMT

DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2026 — The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association has expanded it’s International Stroke Conference with multiple pre-conference symposiums in 2026. The meeting is in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6, 2026, and is a world premier global event dedicated to advancing stroke and brain health science.

The following is a list of all the pre-conference symposiums:

State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium Pre-Conference Symposium - Feb. 3, 2026; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT

This forum provides updates on nursing topics related to stroke care, including prevention, management, rehabilitation and program development. Presentations include the top 10 changes in the acute ischemic stroke 2025 guidelines that impact nursing; early palliative interventions to promote positive outcomes with acute stroke treatment; unifying stroke care; and connecting stroke survivors with the health care system.

Brain Health Pre-Con Symposium - Feb. 3, 2026; 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT

Reflecting the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s growing commitment to fostering science that supports optimal brain function across the lifespan, this new symposium will explore topics at the intersection of vascular neurology, cognitive neuroscience, aging and public health. Session topics include: the heart-brain connection, post-stroke cognitive and mental health problems and the use of AI to improve brain health.

HEADS-UP – Health Equity and Actionable Disparities in Stroke: Understanding and Problem-solving - Feb. 3, 2026; 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. CT

This multidisciplinary scientific forum focuses on race-ethnic disparities in cerebrovascular disease, reducing disparities in stroke and accelerating translation of research to improve outcomes for race-ethnic minorities who reside in the US.

HEADS-UP is a collaborative initiative with the American Stroke Association and the National Institutes for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Visit the HEADS-UP Symposia in the Program Planner for details.

Stroke in Practice: Stroke Lagniappe (formerly Stroke in the Real World) - Feb. 3, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT

The symposium highlights scientific advances in cerebrovascular disease while emphasizing their application in the real world. This year’s topic is addressing challenges in acute stroke management.

Experimental Stroke Science (formerly Stroke in the Lab World) - Feb. 3, 2026; 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT

The focus of this symposium is on promising new developments in the lab and their possible effects on future stroke treatment. Topics include: intracerebral hemorrhage immunology, subarachnoid hemorrhage, leukocytes, intracerebral hemorrhage pathophysiology, cerebral amyloid angiopathy and intraventricular hemorrhages.

MEDIA ATTENDANCE: Media interested in attending the International Stroke Conference and the Pre-Conference Symposia can register here.

Additional Resources:

The American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner
According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. Learn more at www.stroke.org.
American Stroke Association Stroke Hub or in Español
For more news at American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026, follow us on X @HeartNews #ISC26

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About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public's health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and X .

For Media Inquiries:

AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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