Brain Health After SCI — Stroke, Seizures, and Dementia

A spinal cord injury can affect brain health in surprising ways. Here’s what the latest research found.

When we think about a spinal cord injury, we usually think about movement and sensation. But a landmark 2025 study reveals that SCIs can significantly raise the risk of several serious brain-related conditions — including stroke, seizures, and dementia.

Researchers tracked thousands of SCI patients over nearly 30 years and compared them to people without injuries. The findings were striking. People with traumatic SCIs were 2.5 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke or a TIA (sometimes called a “mini-stroke”) compared to uninjured people. They were about 3 times more likely to develop dementia. And they were nearly 3 times more likely to develop seizure disorders.

These aren’t small differences — and they held up across two separate large health systems, which makes them hard to ignore.

Why would a spinal cord injury affect the brain? The connection makes sense when you consider how tightly linked the brain and spinal cord are. The spinal cord is an extension of the central nervous system — the communication highway between your brain and your body. When it’s damaged, that communication breaks down. The resulting changes in blood pressure regulation, inflammation throughout the body, reduced oxygen flow, and disrupted sleep can all affect the brain over time.

Chronic high blood pressure — which the study found is more common after SCI — is one of the leading causes of stroke and dementia. So the heart risks and brain risks are connected.

It’s also worth noting that dementia and cognitive decline are not inevitable just because you’ve had an SCI. But being aware of the elevated risk means you and your healthcare team can take steps to reduce it.

What you can do: Keep blood pressure well controlled. Stay mentally active. If you notice changes in memory, thinking, or confusion, bring it up with your doctor right away. Ask about brain health monitoring as part of your long-term care plan. If you experience unexplained episodes of shaking, staring, or loss of awareness, talk to your doctor about seizure screening.

Source: Mashlah A, et al. JAMA Network Open, November 2025.