Not detected Cerebrovascular accidents ( stroke ) appear to be one of the causes of the deficit of memory , according to a U.S. study. This provides an additional explanation to the decline of certain cognitive abilities. And perhaps in Alzheimer’s disease …
Written by Abdullah Abbadi/Blue Line News
The similarity between the hippocampus of the brain with the famous fish syngnathid is striking. Area of the brain associated with memory, the hippocampus appears to be affected by silent strokes. © Prof. Laszlo Seress, Wikipedia, cc by sa 3.0
Strokes are more common than we think. But mostly they show symptoms, affecting only a few neurons. They are called silent. Apparently they can occur from age 30 and one out of three is victimized each year from age 70. Taken individually, these strokes have little impact, but over time, the consequences can be noticed.
A study by researchers at Columbia University in New York (USA) and published in Neurology show their impact on memory.
Memory is a very complex process. One of its headquarters would be the brain hippocampus, a small structure included in the medial temporal lobe of the mammalian brain. This is where good numbers are stored with memories that can be expressed verbally (general knowledge, true stories in the past). Previous studies have argued that a small hippocampus was associated with cognitive decline.
A connection between cognitive ability and number of silent strokes
This scan shows blood flow in the brain (white) following a massive stroke, while the dark spot just above corresponds to the swelling that results. © James Heilman, Wikipedia, cc by sa 3.0
In this research, 658 healthy people aged 79 years on average were passed to MRI and were also subjected to tests of memory, language, speed of information processing and visual perception. Of these, 174 (26%) had silent strokes.
Those people were less efficient in the various intellectual tests, including those relating to memory, than their peers, regardless of the size of their hippocampus. This shows that the volume of the hippocampus is not the only data used to estimate the decline in cognitive abilities , but these cerebral infarcts do play a role.
The risk factors of stroke are the obesity accompanied by its share of cardiovascular disease , as well as the blood pressure or the cholesterol . The damage they cause, even on a small scale, are irreversible.
Adam Brickman, a co-author of the study, even believe that the implications of this discovery can go beyond the simple prevention of cognitive decline related to age naturally. ” I think we are at the beginning of a story [medical] in which [is considered] the disease contributes to cardiovascular symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease . “In any case in this direction that research will continue.
Selected Sources for further read:
ABC News published Dec 29,2011
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It was interesting article, Thank you, with my love, nia
Posted by niasunset | January 6, 2012, 11:48 amYou are welcome Nia
Posted by Dena Rabadi | January 6, 2012, 11:56 amThank you for this article. My partner suffers from mild strokes called TIA(s) Transient Ischemic Attack. TIA is caused by a clot; the only difference between a stroke and TIA is that with TIA the blockage is transient (temporary). TIA symptoms occur rapidly and last a relatively short time. Most TIAs last less than five minutes; the average is about a minute. Unlike a stroke, when a TIA is over, there’s no permanent injury to the brain like one would notice in a person who is recovering from a stroke. My partner though experiences loss of verbal function, loss of verbal recognition, that is not understanding what people say to him, loss of spatial awareness, that is not understanding where he is. The day after the attack he is left physically and emotionally drained. The long term consequences of these TIA(s) causes memory loss. It is frightening for both of us when these attacks occur. Currently only medication can ease the number of attacks.
Posted by claw67 | January 8, 2012, 3:45 amScarry stuff! Makes a lot of sense though. we are seeing a decline in my great aunt’s health, and I am sure there is a link with TIAs. Her doctor has confirmed one or two mini-strokes. All – in – all, still better than a major stroke – the effects there are quite dramatic!
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