Stroke Ages Brain by 8 Years, Researchers Find

Lisa Franchi June 10, 2015

Stroke, which could be fatal at times, greatly impacts the brain. In fact, it even robs the brain of nearly eight years, significantly impairing memory and slowing down thinking speed – according to new research.

The study, which was carried out by the University of Michigan, involved 4,900 older adults aged 65 and older who underwent tests of memory and thinking speed between 1998 and 2012.

The findings reveal that those who had a stroke fell as much as if they had suddenly aged 7.9 years.

"As we search for the key drivers of the known disparities in cognitive [mental] decline between blacks and whites, we focus here on the role of ’health shocks’ such as stroke," says study author Dr Deborah Levine, an assistant professor in the University of Michigan medical school, said in a university news release.

"Although we found that stroke does not explain the difference, these results show the amount of cognitive aging that stroke brings on, and therefore the importance of stroke prevention to reduce the risk of cognitive decline," she added.

Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident, is a life-threatening condition that is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. It is a medical emergency that requires urgent medical attention. The common signs of stroke include sudden severe headache, vision problems, trouble talking or walking, dizziness, slurred speech, and numbness. Whilst stroke can occur at any age, older adults are more likely to have a stroke than their younger counterparts.

In the UK, strokes are a major health problem. Each year, about 110,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with stroke. It is also the third largest cause of death in England, next to cancer and heart disease. The new study highlights the importance of stroke prevention. Smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and a poor diet are among the most common risk factors for stroke, along with high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes.

Source of this article: Stroke Ages Brain by 8 Years, Study Finds