A D.C. neurologist explains why the number of young adults suffering strokes is increasing, including Grammy-winning musician Donald Glover.
Donald Glover says he suffered a stroke last year, forcing the Grammy-winning musician to cancel his tour.
Glover, who goes by the stage name Childish Gambino, shared the news about the health concern while on stage at the Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles over the weekend.
Glover is currently 42 years old.
The rapper is one of a growing group of adults under the age of 50 who have suffered a stroke.
“That’s because we’re seeing more and more people having ‘vascular risk factors,'” said Dr. Mima Akinsanya, a board-certified neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist at MedStar Georgetown.
Those risk factors relate to disorders and diseases that can affect your blood vessels, he said.
“This includes high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, or even prediabetes, high cholesterol, obesity,” he said. “All of these things are risk factors for stroke, and we’re seeing them more and more in people, even in their 20s and 30s.”
Strokes are typically seen in people over the age of 65, but research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that they are becoming more common in younger adults. According to the CDC, from 2011-2013 to 2020-2022, the prevalence of stroke among young adults aged 18 to 44 increased by 14.6%.
‘Fast’ – Stroke Symptoms
Glover said that his poor health made it difficult to watch the show and he started getting headaches. After his show, when he went to a doctor, Glover said he was told he had a stroke.
“The typical symptoms of a stroke are usually weakness on one side of the body, which could be an arm or a leg, facial droop, so one side of your face is droopy, any kind of slurred speech, difficulty speaking or getting your words out,” Akinsanya said.
If you need a tip for remembering those signs, Akinsanya shared the acronym “FAST.”
- F – face bending
- A – weakness of arms or legs
- S – change in speech
- t – time
If someone is having a stroke, Akinsanya said you should call 911 and go to the emergency room as quickly as possible to prevent or minimize damage.
“I’ve heard patients who said, ‘Oh, I thought I could take it off and sleep, or I wanted to see if I got better.’ And in the case of a stroke you don’t have that luxury. You really need to get evaluated as soon as possible,” she said.
He said the biggest concern for young adults who suffer a stroke is that the stroke can lead to permanent disability.
“If you’re young and you have a stroke that affects one part of the body and you’re not able to move much, it can affect your ability to work,” he said. “It can affect your livelihood, your functioning at an early age.”
‘We don’t want this to happen in the beginning’
“There are steps people can take to reduce the chance of stroke by preventing cholesterol and plaque buildup in your arteries,” Akinsanya said.
“We don’t want that to happen in the beginning,” he said.
First of all, make sure you are eating healthy to keep your blood pressure in the normal range.
“The Mediterranean diet has really good evidence for helping prevent stroke,” Akinsanya said. “That could look like leafy greens, like spinach and kale, salmon, beans and lentils — these types of foods help prevent high cholesterol and stroke.”
Visiting a primary care doctor can help you monitor your cholesterol.
“Exercising 30 minutes a day also helps prevent stroke,” he said. “It may look like jogging, high-intensity walking, but just make sure you’re moving.”
Drug use can also increase the risk of stroke.
“Quitting smoking and even vaping are both risk factors for vascular disease that can lead to stroke,” Akinsanya said.
The same applies to substances like cocaine, methamphetamine and stimulants. Akinsanya said to ensure that stimulant medications are prescribed and supervised by a doctor.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2025 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located in the European Economic Area.
<a href=