Association seen in Black and White individuals, with larger magnitude for Blacks<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, Jan. 2, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The Brain Care Score (BCS), a tool encompassing 12 modifiable risk factors, is associated with incident stroke in Black and White U.S. adults, with a larger effect size for Black adults, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Neurology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Evy M. Reinders, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues assessed the BCS and its associations with incident stroke in Black versus White individuals using data from REGARDS, a prospective U.S. cohort of Black and White adults aged 45 years or older. The cohort included 10,861 participants who were stroke free at baseline and had complete BCS data.<\/p>\n The researchers found that over a median of 15.9 years, 696 strokes occurred. In both groups, a five-point higher BCS was associated with lower stroke risk, with larger magnitude for Black versus White individuals (hazard ratios, 0.47 and 0.75, respectively).<\/p>\n “The Brain Care Score integrates physical, lifestyle, and social-emotional factors into one measure of brain health,” Reinders said in a statement. “Our analyses suggest that improving everyday behaviors could yield particularly large benefits for groups at higher risk of stroke, such as Black adults.”<\/p>\n One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n