People who had a transient ischemic attack, often called a mini-stroke, had a 34% higher risk of developing dementia than similar people who never had one, according to a large Canadian study published Sept. 23 in Neurology. About 19% of patients were diagnosed with dementia over an average of seven years, and the risk was highest in the first year after the attack.
The study shows an association, not proof that a mini-stroke causes dementia. The attack may be a sign of blood vessel disease or other brain changes that were already raising dementia risk, and the researchers did not have detailed brain scans to check for hidden disease.
