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Stroke and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Kuźma E, Lourida I, Moore SF, Levine DA, Ukoumunne OC, Llewellyn DJ.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2018-08-31
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Stroke is an established risk factor for all-cause dementia, though meta-analyses are needed to quantify this risk. Methods We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase for studies assessing prevalent or incident stroke versus a no-stroke comparison group and the risk of all-cause dementia. Random effects meta-analysis was used to pool adjusted estimates across studies, and meta-regression was used to investigate potential effect modifiers. Results We identified 36 studies of prevalent stroke (1.9 million participants) and 12 studies of incident stroke (1.3 million participants). For prevalent stroke, the pooled hazard ratio for all-cause dementia was 1.69 (95% confidence interval: 1.49-1.92; P 2 = 87%). For incident stroke, the pooled risk ratio was 2.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.90-2.50; P 2 = 88%). Study characteristics did not modify these associations, with the exception of sex which explained 50.2% of between-study heterogeneity for prevalent stroke. Discussion Stroke is a strong, independent, and potentially modifiable risk factor for all-cause dementia.
Key findings
- Methods We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase for studies assessing prevalent or incident stroke versus a no-stroke comparison group and the risk of all-cause dementia.
- Results We identified 36 studies of prevalent stroke (1.9 million participants) and 12 studies of incident stroke (1.3 million participants).
Why it matters
This meta-analysis of 36 studies of prevalent stroke and 12 studies of incident stroke found that stroke was linked to a higher risk of all-cause dementia. It identifies stroke as a strong and potentially modifiable risk factor, but does not test any treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Effect size50.2%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 70/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 379 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 37.9 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 33 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 157 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author David J. Llewellyn: h-index 68 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Michigan: institution h-index 2,240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30177276) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 70 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061
- PubMed: 30177276
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kuźma, E., Lourida, I., Moore, S. F., Levine, D. A., Ukoumunne, O. C., & Llewellyn, D. J. (2018). Stroke and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061
Vancouver
Kuźma E, Lourida I, Moore SF, Levine DA, Ukoumunne OC, Llewellyn DJ. Stroke and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061. PMID: 30177276.
BibTeX
@article{kuzma2018-30177276,
author = {Kuźma, E. and Lourida, I. and Moore, S. F. and Levine, D. A. and Ukoumunne, O. C. and Llewellyn, D. J.},
title = {{Stroke and dementia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061},
pmid = {30177276},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3061}
}
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