A stroke is a major event, but not all strokes are equal in magnitude. Some are more severe than others. Some individuals can suffer from a stroke and not even know about it until after the fact. However, a good number of people that have suffered from non-life threatening strokes report having issues with memory and concentration after the fact. These individuals aren’t in danger of passing away because of a stroke, and the likelihood of suffering a permanent physical disability is pretty low for these people. But even younger folk have reported cognitive difficulty after suffering a minor stroke.
And now researchers believe that they have a better understanding of why this is. Because of better observation methods, scientists have been able to determine that there is a diminished amount of neural activity, even after a minor stroke.
This condition has been called poststroke acute dysexecutive syndrome, also known as PSADES. It occurs because of tissue death within the brain, regardless of where the damage has been done. So, even if the stroke damage isn’t necessarily impacting other areas of life, there may very well be cognitive decline for the person that has had the stroke. In the past, it’s been thought that there were certain parts of the brain that were more important than others when it came to cognitive function, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.
The good news is that PSADES tends to improve over the course of several months. This happens because the brain has a great way of “rewiring” how signals are relayed. The creation of new pathways can occur in the brain, but it’s not immediate. This is why repetitive things like therapy are necessary after a stroke. Repeated actions help the brain learn how to efficiently send signals.
When someone has a stroke there’s often a period of increased need. This can last for weeks, months, or even longer. Sometimes the need for more assistance never goes away. It all depends on the severity of the stroke and other factors that a person may have been experiencing in their life before and after the stroke occurred. Having someone on your side that can help in this kind of a situation can go a long way toward helping your family live a better life. The recovery process can be long and slow, and it takes a toll even on the healthiest members of your family.
Knowing where to turn for help is important. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, we can be that resource for you. We specialize in in-home care, and have a vast amount of experience working with people that have increased needs because of a stroke. If you’re looking for experience and knowledge, we’re here for you.
In-home care isn’t for everyone. That’s why we are more than happy to offer a free consultation service to help you get started. If you’re not sure what the best next steps are for your family, we can help you figure that out. And it comes with no obligation on your part. Just give us a call to get started.
Leave a Reply