Mediterranean diet linked to lower stroke risk in females, study finds

• A new study suggests that women who closely follow a Mediterranean-style diet may have a lower risk of experiencing all major types of stroke, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
• The results show that those with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet were 18% less likely to have any stroke compared with those with the lowest adherence.
• Higher adherence to the dietary plan was linked to a 16% lower risk of ischemic stroke and a 25% lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke after adjusting for lifestyle and health factors.
• However, the study was observational, meaning it shows an association rather than a direct cause-and-effect relationship, and relied on self-reported dietary data.

Stroke describes a disease that impacts the arteries leading to and within the brain. Evidence highlights that it is the third leading cause of death, as well as a leading cause of disability in the United States.

There are three different types of stroke, which include ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic attack.

Evidence notes that the lifetime risk of stroke is higher in women than in men, and they are also more likely to experience worse stroke outcomes. In fact, roughly one in five women will have a stroke.

Stroke risk increases with age. As women typically live longer than men, they are more likely to experience a stroke in their lifetime. Additionally, they also face unique risk factors for stroke, such as contraception, pregnancy and menopause.