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Getty
Children of divorce are nearly two-thirds more likely to have a stroke later in life, a new study finds.
Researchers found that participants whose parents divorced before they turned 18 were 61% more likely to experience a stroke later in life. This greater risk was also present after accounting for depression and diabetes, which are also known risk factors for stroke.
“Our study indicates that even after taking into account most of the known risk factors associated with stroke — including smoking, physical inactivity, lower income and education, diabetes, depression, and low social support — those whose parents had divorced still had 61% higher odds of having a stroke,” study author Mary Kate Schilkesaid.
Esme Fuller-Thomson, lead author of the study, noted that the researchers excluded participants who were exposed to sexual or physical abuse from the study.
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Experts explained that it’s unclear why there is a link between children of divorce and stroke risk, but both biological and social factors can be contributing factors.
“From a biological embedding perspective, having your parents split up during childhood could lead to sustained high levels of stress hormones,” Fuller-Thomson said. “Experiencing this as a child could have lasting influences on the developing brain and a child’s ability to respond to stress.”
source: people.com
