Which of the following is not a modifiable risk factor for stroke?

• A. Smoking
• B. Hypertension
• C. Diabetes
• D. Age

Answer: (D)

The main concept here is distinguishing factors you can change from those you can’t. Age is not modifiable—you can’t alter how old you are, and stroke risk climbs with increasing age due to vascular changes and cumulative exposure to risk—so age remains constant no matter what you do. The other factors listed are modifiable: quitting smoking reduces vascular damage, controlling blood pressure lowers the stress on vessels, and managing diabetes improves glucose-related vascular effects. Because you can actively reduce risk through these changes, age stands out as the non-modifiable factor.