Insomnia was linked to a 26% higher hazard of stroke in a new analysis pooling nine studies and more than 1.3 million people.[1] It is an association from observational studies, and it does not show that insomnia causes strokes.
What the researchers did
A team led by Luca Vignatelli at the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna ran an umbrella review. That means they gathered existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses on insomnia and seven outcomes: dementia, stroke, depression, suicide, death, occupational injuries, and hospitalization. They searched MEDLINE and EMBASE through August 2025 and included 16 published meta-analyses.[1] For stroke, occupational injuries, and hospitalization, no meta-analysis existed, so the team ran three new ones of their own.[1]
What they found
- Stroke: insomnia predicted stroke across 9 studies and 1,343,164 participants, with a hazard ratio of 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.53).[1]
- Hospitalization for any reason: across 5 studies and 517,620 participants, the odds ratio was 1.28 (confidence interval 1.14 to 1.43).[1]
- Dementia, depression, and suicide: the existing meta-analyses consistently identified insomnia as a predictor of all three.[1]
- Death from any cause was not associated with insomnia.[1]
- Occupational injuries: only two studies (143,942 participants) were found, and the authors say the data are not enough to draw a conclusion.[1]
What this study does not show
These are pooled results from observational studies. They describe who went on to have a stroke, not why. The lower end of the stroke confidence interval is 1.05, barely above no effect, so the size of the link is uncertain. The review also does not show whether treating insomnia lowers stroke risk. The authors describe an association with brain health, not a proven pathway.[1]
What to do with this
- Treat ongoing trouble falling or staying asleep as a health topic, not a personality trait. If it is frequent and wears on your days, tell your clinician.
- Before buying a gadget, read what the evidence says about sleep trackers in Do Wearables Help Insomnia?.
- Write down when you go to bed, when you wake, and how many nights a week sleep goes badly. Two weeks of notes make the appointment more useful.
- If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US) any time.
References
[1] Vignatelli L, Leone MA, Pupillo E, Seidel S, Kallweit U, Colorado Prieto N, Lolich M, Tüzun M, Bassetti CLA. Insomnia as risk factor for brain, mental and general health consequences: an umbrella systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2026;102372. Population: 16 published meta-analyses plus three new systematic reviews (stroke: 9 studies, 1,343,164 participants; hospitalization: 5 studies, 517,620 participants). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102372. Finding as used: insomnia predicted stroke (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.53) and hospitalization (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.43); consistent predictor of dementia, depression, and suicide in existing meta-analyses; not associated with death; occupational injury data insufficient. ↑︎
Kurt Greiner
Kurt is a digital strategist and IT professional blending emerging technology with practical application to help businesses and individuals streamline their digital presence. His current work focuses on the intersection of intentional living and technological resilience, exploring how individuals can leverage modern tools to navigate the second half of life with purpose.
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