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Severe, rapid memory loss may be linked to - and could predict - afuture deadly stroke , according to research presented at the American StrokeAssociation's International Stroke Conference 2012. Researchers found that people who died after stroke had more severememory loss in the years before stroke compared to people whosurvived stroke or people who didn't have a stroke. "We're most surprised that people who died after strokes had suchsharp memory declines years before stroke onset" said Qianyi Wang,the study's lead author and a graduate student at the HarvardUniversity School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. In the study, researchers examined 11,814 people age 50 years andolder every two years for signs of declining memory. Studyparticipants were stroke-free at enrollment and were followed up to10 years. Participants continued in the study if they survived astroke. They reported 1,820 strokes, including 364 individuals whodied after stroke but before the next memory assessment. Averagememory loss each year was compared for participants who remainedstroke free; participants who survived a stroke, considering theirmemory loss might be different before and after stroke; andparticipants who had a stroke but did not survive. The researchers used a standard word-recall list to measure memoryloss. For participants whose memory loss became too severe to usethe word lists, researchers interviewed spouses or other caregiversusing a standardized assessment. Memory score is expressed instandard deviation units. The average memory score each year dropped: 0.078 points in those who didn't have a stroke while in the study; 0.137 points before stroke in those who later survived a stroke; 0.205 points before stroke in those who later died from stroke. The people who survived a stroke had worse average memory evenbefore the stroke compared to similar individuals who never had astroke during follow-up. At the time of stroke, memory functiondropped an average 0.321 points. This difference is about the sameas the average memory decline associated with growing 4.1 yearsolder among those who remained stroke free. Because of the largestroke-related declines, memory impairment was common among strokesurvivors. Increased memory loss may be linked to a higher risk of fatalstroke for several reasons, researchers said. "People who die after stroke may have worse underlying diseaseprior to stroke. This suggests early disease is accumulating andthat something is happening to these people before they arediagnosed with clinical stroke." said M. Maria Glymour, S.D.,senior study author and an assistant professor at the HarvardSchool of Public Health. "However, memory impairment is associatedwith increased mortality regardless of stroke. Memory impairmentmay therefore make patients more vulnerable to death in the wake ofthe stroke, for reasons that are unrelated to stroke severity.We're not sure which is true and we can't tell with these analyses,but we hope to examine this in the future." Studies are needed to determine whether the effects of stroke onmemory differ for different groups of people; for example, theseeffects may vary depending on race, gender, geographic location andsocioeconomic status. "Even health conditions that are much more common at older ages mayhave roots earlier in life," Glymour said. "Your entire life courseinfluences your health in old age." Additional References Citations. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Pigskin Leather Gloves , China Kids Gardening Gloves, and more. For more , please visit Industrial Safety Hand Gloves today!
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