Memory loss after stroke

Memory loss commonly occurs as a result of the loss of nerve cells in the brain. When memory loss is so severe that it interferes with normal daily functioning, it is called dementia. People with dementia may have difficulty learning new things or remembering names of people they just met. They may get lost in places that were previously very familiar or have trouble finding words. The term “mild cognitive impairment” is used for a common condition in elderly people in which the memory problem is usually mild and does not interfere with normal daily activities. Most people with mild cognitive impairment do not develop a severe memory problem or end up developing dementia. There are many things that can cause dementia. One of these is Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Another is called vascular dementia, caused by brain damage due to strokes. More information about causes of dementia can be found on the next page.

In this issue of Neurology, O’Brien and colleagues report the results of a study in elderly people evaluating the risk of developing dementia after a person has had a stroke (Gamaldo A, Moghekar A, Kilada S, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, O’Brien R. Effect of a clinical stroke on the risk of dementia in a prospective cohort. Neurology 2006;67:1363–1369). The study included 335 elderly subjects who were on average 75 years of age …