A new study published May 20, 2026, in Neurology® found that people in middle age and older adulthood who have migraines with aura may have a higher risk of stroke. An aura is a warning sign that can happen before or during a migraine, such as seeing flashing lights or a blurry patch in your vision.
Researchers studied more than 11,000 adults with an average age of 72 who had not had a stroke at the start of the study. About 1,100 participants reported having migraines, and some of them experienced aura. Participants were followed for an average of six years.
The researchers found that migraines in general were not linked to a higher stroke risk. However, people who had migraines with aura were more likely to have a stroke than those who did not have migraines. Migraine with aura was associated with about a 73% higher risk of stroke. People with migraines without aura did not have an increased risk.
When looking at associations of sex and age, the study found that men younger than 72 years old who had migraines—with or without aura—had more than three times the risk of stroke compared to those without migraines. Researchers did not see this same increased risk in women or men older than age 72.
This study does not prove migraines cause stroke. It only shows an association.
“Previous research has shown that migraine with aura is linked to an increased risk of stroke in younger people but less is known about people 45 years old and older,” said study author Adam Sprouse Blum, MD, PhD. The researchers say that more studies are needed to understand these patterns.
Key takeaways
- In this study, migraine with aura may be linked to a higher risk of stroke in older adults.
- This study does not prove that migraines, with or without aura, cause stroke.
