Stroke Older men may benefit from more-demanding exercise. THE QUESTION Might exercise help keep older people from having a stroke? THIS STUDY analyzed data on 3,298 people who averaged 69 years old. Nearly three-fourths of them had high blood pressure. About 41 percent were physically inactive, 39 percent regularly exercised lightly (golf, walking, dancing) and 20 percent said they participated in moderate- to high-intensity exercise (tennis, swimming, jogging, biking). In a nine-year span, 238 of the participants had a stroke caused by a blood clot. Among men, those who exercised with moderate to high intensity were 63 percent less likely to have had a stroke than were inactive men. In women, however, physical activity had no effect on the chances of having a stroke. WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Older people. Although a stroke can occur at any age, risk increases with age, and two-thirds of all strokes occur in those older than 65. Strokes strike men more often than women. CAVEATS Data on physical activity came from the participants' answers on questionnaires. The authors suggested that participation in higher-intensity exercise 'may have been indicative of overall well-being.' FIND THIS STUDY Nov. 24 issue of Neurology. LEARN MORE ABOUT stroke at www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders and www.strokeassociation.org. The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician. 