Concern as stroke rates for women stay steady

Stroke rates are falling amongmenbutnotwomen, according to a study.

Researchers at Brown University in the US found that increases in healthy living and improvements in prevention had resulted in a substantial drop in the brain disorder.

But they said figures detailing the incidence of strokes among women were less positive.

While the number of cases among men declined during the study period, they remained the same for women.

Dr Tracy Madsen, of Brown University, said: “For years women have had a lower overall rate of stroke compared with men but now men appear to be approaching similar rates.

“While any decrease in rates of stroke is of course a good thing it leaves one to wonder why women’s rates are not going down to the same extent.”