A Stroke Can Lead to Decline in Memory Faster Than That of Normal Brain Aging

Stroke survivors may experience accelerated and persistent decline in memory and thinking ability over several years after the event, revealed a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study findings suggested that these changes happen faster than normal brain aging. Lead author Deborah Levine from University of Michigan Medical School in the US said, "We found that stroke is associated with cognitive decline over the long-term. That is, survivors had accelerated and persistent declines in memory and thinking ability during the years after stroke, even after accounting for their cognitive changes before and early after the event."

The study involved 23,572 Americans aged 45 years or older. The participants were monitored twice a year for acute stroke events. Suspected strokes were confirmed by physicians using medical records. Over the next six to 10 years, 515 people had a stroke, and researchers compared their test results with those from the 23,057 who remained stroke-free.

Researchers found that stroke was associated with declines in cognition, new learning, and verbal memory early after stroke as well as accelerated and persistent declines in cognition and thinking ability over the years after the event. Levine said, "Our results suggest that stroke survivors warrant monitoring for mounting cognitive impairment over the years after the event."

Source-IANS