Stroke steals away 8 years worth of brain function

Having a stroke (brain attack) means that the score on a 27-item test of memory and thinking speed drops as much as it would have if they had aged 7.9 years overnight.

The researchers say the findings, which will be published in the July issue of Stroke, underscore the importance of stroke prevention. On an average, stroke robs the brain of eight years of cognitive health.

People of all racial and ethnic backgrounds can benefit from taking steps to reduce their risk of a stroke by controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, stopping or avoiding smoking, controlling blood sugar in diabetes and being active even in older age.

Written by: Dr. Ajay Sati.