Association between baseline levels of muscular strength and risk of stroke in later life: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study

•We examined the association of baseline muscular strength with stroke risk during Medicare follow-up in healthy adults.•Neither upper body strength nor lower body strength were significantly associated with stroke risk during Medicare follow-up.•However, when Medicare follow-up was restricted to ages 65–80 years, upper body strength was significantly and inversely associated with stroke risk.•Higher levels of upper body strength may be helpful in reducing stroke risk during the early years of Medicare follow-up.•We also observed a strong inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness and stroke risk during Medicare follow-up.