Ont. study suggests risk of dementia 80% higher one year after stroke vs those who had heart attack

The study also found nearly 20% of stroke survivors develop dementia over the next five-and-a-half years. The risk for those who had bleeding in the brain was nearly 150% higher than the general population. Five years after suffering a stroke, the risk of dementia dropped to a rate of 1.5 times higher than the general population. While the risk continues to decrease over time, it remained elevated for up to 20 years after a stroke. Researchers say the findings reinforce the importance of monitoring people with stroke for cognitive decline and should encourage people to make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and increased physical activity.