Association between intrinsic capacity trajectories and risk of stroke incidence in middle-aged and older chinese adults: Evidence from a nationwide prospective cohort study based on CHARLS

Higher IC was independently associated with a significantly reduced risk of incident stroke, underscoring IC's potential as a holistic, function-based indicator of cerebrovascular vulnerability. These findings provide empirical support for the World Health Organization's healthy aging framework, emphasizing IC as a modifiable reserve that reflects early, multidomain functional decline before clinical disease onset. Incorporating IC into routine screening and prevention strategies may enhance early identification of high-risk individuals and enable more targeted, function-oriented interventions, thereby promoting healthy aging and helping to reduce the future burden of stroke.