The early signs of an impending stroke named
Signs of a possible stroke can be noticed long before it happens, scientists from Erasmus Mac University in Rotterdam said. They monitored the health of 14,712 people for 28 years, according to the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Volunteers were interviewed every few years and passed tests demonstrating physical and mental health. These included tests for memory, fluency, and reaction time. Scientists also evaluated a person's ability to cope with everyday activities: washing, cooking, cleaning, managing their finances.
During the scientific experiment, 1,662 participants suffered a stroke. Their average age was eighty years.
The study showed that even ten years before the attack, people at risk of experiencing an accelerated decline in mental performance. They performed worse on tests than others. Two to three years before the stroke, problems began with daily tasks such as cooking and paying bills.
In the years before a stroke, the researchers say, injuries such as small-vessel disease, neurodegeneration and inflammation begin to build up in people's brains a few years before a stroke.
By tracking down the warning signs, patients can reduce the risk of stroke by adopting healthier lifestyles and choosing the right therapy. The group at particular risk included women, people without higher education and carriers of the gene for Alzheimer's disease.
Previously, scientists called an unusual sign of an impending stroke. It is a migraine with strange visions and sensations.
