What condition is characterized by increased risk with age in the CNS?

The condition characterized by an increased risk with age in the central nervous system (CNS) is stroke. Stroke is primarily a vascular event that can be influenced by various risk factors, many of which become more prevalent or pronounced as individuals grow older.

As people age, they often experience changes in their cardiovascular health, such as increased hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other conditions that promote vascular disease. These factors significantly contribute to the likelihood of an ischemic stroke (caused by a blockage) or a hemorrhagic stroke (caused by bleeding) in older adults. Epidemiological studies consistently show that the incidence of both types of stroke rises sharply with advancing age.

While other conditions listed, such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, can also have age-related factors, they do not exhibit the same clear exponential increase in risk strictly tied to aging like strokes do. Alzheimer's disease, for instance, has a higher incidence among older populations, but it is more associated with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration rather than acute vascular events.

Therefore, the characterization of stroke as a condition with increased risk with age highlights the significant influence of age-related vascular health and the resultant increase in cerebrovascular incidents among the elderly.