Both cerebral haemorrhage and cerebral thrombosis, that constitute two types of strokes, lead to severe cognitive symptoms. KU Leuven has discovered that even more than the impacted location in the brain, the brain’s health condition and the patient’s education level play a decisive role in the impact and the recovery. Tailored care should be provided.
Most people who have had a stroke, suffer severe brain damage. This leads to impaired speech, calculation, memory, concentration, and other abilities. Until recently, the severity of the symptoms was attributed to the location in the brain where the clot formed or the haemorrhage took place. Now, the analysis of a standardised test performed on 2,172 young and older patients has shown that factors other than that location play a decisive role in the brain damage sustained. The better educated the victim is and the more mental stimulation they have received before the stroke, the better they are protected when the damage occurs. This is called cognitive reserve.
KU Leuven researchers recognised patterns in the type of symptoms and grouped them into 13 profiles. Because of that, they can offer patients a targeted treatment. This type of tailored care is crucial for recovery.
Prevention is better than cure. This is why we would like to give you five tips to keep your brain in the best shape possible: maintain a healthy diet and an active lifestyle, get enough rest, and keep socialising and training your brain.
