(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Wealthier people are less likely to have a stroke, but the benefit appears to fade out with age.

That's the key finding from Dutch researchers who looked at overall wealth (defined as the total of all assets, including inherited money, minus any liabilities), income, and educational levels in United States residents between the ages of 50 and 64, and those age 65 and over.

The link between wealth and stroke risk is also supported by other results of the study, which showed poorer people are more likely to smoke, have high blood pressure, be overweight, have low levels of physical activity, and suffer from diseases like diabetes and heart disease -- all of which put them at increased risk for stroke.