Down Syndrome Linked to Higher Stroke and Heart Risks

United States: New research says that people who are victims of Down syndrome have a far greater risk of a stroke when compared to people who are not victims.

Major Stroke Risk Identified in Down Syndrome Patients

Patients with Down’s syndrome have a risk for brain bleed stroke 5.14 times greater, and the hazard for clot stroke risk is more than 4 times greater,” as reported in the Journal of Internal Medicine, May 7, as reported by HealthDay.

A higher risk of heart attack was discovered by researchers for younger patients with Down syndrome as well.

“These results showed that individuals with Down syndrome have increased risk of some age-related cardiovascular outcomes and prompt, as did results from previous studies, about the different cardiovascular risk factor profile of individuals with Down syndrome from the general population,” said lead researcher Annie Pedersen from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, in a news release.

Genetics and Lifestyle May Play a Role

According to the U.S. CDC, in Down syndrome, individuals have one more copy of chromosome 21 that alters the development of their body and brain.

Study reveals 5x higher stroke risk for Down syndrome patients, highlighting need for vigilant health monitoring. https://t.co/Lfz6m4JFCu
— HealthDay News (@HealthDayTweets) May 8, 2025

In the recent past, the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome has soared significantly, going from an average of 25 years in the early eighties to 60 years in 2020, according to background notes submitted to researchers.

Age, however, brings more heart-related health issues with it. Scholars were curious whether the genetic peculiarities of Down syndrome can indicate a range of risks for the patients when they grow up.

For the study, researchers followed nearly 5,200 people with Down syndrome who lived in Sweden and were born between 1946 and 2000 and compared their stroke and heart attack risk with the general population of the country.

Not Just Arteries: Other Stroke Triggers Suspected

Findings indicate an increased risk of stroke. According to Pedersen, this “may have future implications for the surveillance and treatment of individuals with Down syndrome.”

The risks of blood-clot induced stroke would likely be because of the presence of a congenital heart disease or diabetes, and not an outcome of clogged arteries, researchers said, as reported by HealthDay.

Similarly, it may be that brain-bleed strokes among people with Down syndrome are prompted by obesity, high cholesterol, inadequate exercise, and other unhealthy behaviors, among others, said researchers.