Ask an Expert

Dr. Jon Ween, Director of the Stroke Clinic in the Brain Health Centre

Question
"I am in my mid-forties and recently had a stroke. I've completed a rehabilitation program but am having a hard time organizing my day and remembering things. Could this be a result of the stroke and what can I do to improve?"

Answer
It is not unusual for those who recover well physically from a stroke to find they are not as mentally quick and agile as they once were. This shows itself mostly as problems organizing and remembering things.

We believe the reason for this is that brains recover by reorganizing processing to different units. There seems to be a limited number of units available, and so damage to the brain leaves fewer units to carry the load. This is most noticeable with demanding tasks, which tend to be the ones with fewer "handles" for the brain to use. Examples of these include keeping many, unrelated things in mind at once; planning future actions; remembering isolated information such as people's names or where you put your keys. We have a hard time with these as we get older anyway, so adding a stroke makes things even harder. There are also strokes that affect future planning and memory directly, though these are less common.

What can we do to overcome these difficulties?

• get plenty of good rest
• write things down
• keep things simple and avoid mental "overload"
• get treatment for any post-stroke depression
• access a post-stroke treatment program
• stay physically active
• stay mentally active
• eat a healthy diet

It is important to remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a few pounds of cure, particularly when it comes to stroke. Modifying your risk of stroke is very important. If you have had a stroke, you are at increased risk of having a second one. The most important aspect of stroke prevention is physical fitness. Also, systolic blood pressure should be 120-130 mm of mercury and LDL (bad cholesterol) should not be higher than 2 mg/dl. Finally, no amount of smoking is good for you.

Try to not get discouraged. Recovery is tough, but most people do improve.

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In This Issue:
November-December 2009

• Brew for your brain
• Can brain damage affect our ability to enjoy a good joke?
• Afternoon snack boosts the brain
• Teach yourself memory tricks
• Last month's poll:Are you finding it harder to concentrate as you age?
• Youthquake at Baycrest
• 'Tis the season to send greetings
• Ask an expert

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