How Does A Stroke Affect The Brain? A New Study Suggests Strokes Can Steal 8 Years' Worth Of Brain Function!

Researchers have found that a stroke can have serious consequences for brain, and there are various factors that can make a person susceptible to a stroke.

Several uncontrollable risk factors including age, gender, family and personal history could make a person vulnerable to a stroke. Certain lifestyle factors such as diet, physical exercises, alcohol, and smoking that can be controlled also increase a person's chances of having a stroke.

A deadly stroke can impact various aspects of well-being and life.

In a new study, scientists have found that stroke claims eight years' worth of your brain functions.

Data from more than 4,900 black and white seniors over the age of 65 was evaluated by a team from the University of Michigan and the VA Center for Clinical Management Research for the study, according to records on Times of India.

In a press release, UM Medical School assistant professor Deborah Levine, M.D., said, "as we search for the key drivers of the known disparities in cognitive decline between blacks and whites, we focus here on the role of 'health shocks' such as stroke."

"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," professor Deborah Levine added.

The researchers focused on the 7.5 percent of the black study participants, and the 6.7 percent of the white participants, who did not have recent history of stroke, dementia or other cognitive issues. However, the participants included those who suffered a documented stroke within 12 years of their first surgery and cognitive test in 1998.

The researchers noted that both blacks and whites did considerably worse on the test after their stroke than they had before - equivalent to aging 7.9 years, UPI noted.

"The results show the amount of cognitive ageing that stroke brings on, and, therefore, the importance of stroke prevention to reduce the risk of cognitive decline," Professor Deborah Levine said.

According to the researchers, the findings accentuate the importance of stroke prevention. Professor Deborah Levine and her colleagues said that certain factors including the number of years a person has vascular risk factors, and the quality of his/her education as well as genetic and biological factors, might play a crucial role in racial differences in long-term cognitive performance.

That being said, strokes without a doubt have serious consequences for brain function. By controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, avoiding smoking, controlling blood sugar in diabetes, maintaining healthy weight with an appropriate diet and being active even in older age can protect anyone from stroke.

The results will be published in the July issue of Stroke.