Can a Stroke Cause Memory Loss in Seniors?
According to the CDC, stroke, for which the risk increases with age, affects 795,000 people in the U.S. yearly. About three in four (610,000) are new or first strokes, while the rest occur in individuals who've already had a stroke.
Strokes aren't always fatal, but even if they're not, they can still cause severe consequences, including those that affect cognition.
So, can a stroke cause memory loss, then? How are stroke and cognition problems connected, anyway? And what can families do to help their older loved ones who've suffered from this often debilitating condition?
In this guide, the kind and compassionate team at Discovery Commons San Ramon will explore and discuss the answers to those questions. Please read on, as we'll also share insights into how our memory care community nestled in the safe, quiet, and peaceful City of San Ramon, CA, provides post-stroke support and memory care promotes brain health in aging.
Can a Stroke Cause Memory Loss?
Yes. A stroke can cause memory loss because it disrupts the blood supply to the brain. The disruption can result from a clot (blockage) or bleeding (e.g., from a burst blood vessel).
When the blood supply gets disrupted, the brain fails to receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function and stay healthy. Its cells die, resulting in brain damage.
How Are Strokes and Cognition/Memory Problems Connected?
The severity and type of memory loss resulting from strokes depend on the part of the brain that sustains damage. For instance, researchers of one study in the National Library of Medicine (NLM) state that stroke can cause memory problems like:
- Episodic memory loss due to cerebral infarction or hemorrhage in the Papez and Yakovlev circuits
- Impaired retrieval of old memories due to extensive medial temporal lobe damage
- Anterograde amnesia (inability to form new long-term memories after a memory loss-causing event) resulting from damage to the hippocampus
- Severe retrograde amnesia (difficulty remembering what happened in the past) due to hippocampus and parahippocampal gyri damage
Stroke can also cause memory loss by causing vascular dementia (VD). According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5% to 10% of people with dementia have VD alone. It can cause symptoms similar to other dementias, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).
What Can Families Do to Support Loved Ones Who've Had a Stroke?
Being patient is one of the most crucial things family members can do, especially with seniors who develop post-stroke aphasia. Aphasia makes communicating with or understanding language more challenging. Speech language therapy can help with its management, but not everyone can recover from this condition.
To show patience, avoid rushing in to help them complete their sentences, which may only confuse them. Instead, give them time to organize their thoughts and allow them to find their words.
Also, do your best to be more receptive. Ask your loved one directly how you can help, especially with daily tasks. Then, extend a helping hand if and whenever needed and respect their boundaries.
How Can Discovery Commons San Ramon Help?
Discovery Commons San Ramon is a senior living community in San Ramon, CA, specializing in assisted living and memory care. We can help care for your older loved one dealing with the after-effects of stroke or memory loss (whether due to stroke or another type of dementia) in the following ways.
Specialized and Comprehensive Memory Care
At Discovery Commons San Ramon, we have a team of highly qualified and experienced memory care experts who are adept at:
- Assessing the unique needs of each resident
- Developing person-centered care plans for each resident, including senior neurological wellness and cognitive programming
- Helping residents manage symptoms
- Offering support to residents and their families
Please rest assured that our dedicated team members have undergone extensive memory care education and training. As such, family members of our memory care residents can rest assured that their loved ones are receiving only exceptional care, comfort, and companionship.
Highly Tailored Personal Care
At Discovery Commons San Ramon's assisted living and memory care enclaves, residents can access highly individualized care and supportive services if (and when) needed. For example, they can always rely on our kind and caring team for help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as:
- Bathing
- Continence care
- Medication management
By helping them with tasks they can no longer do on their own, we can help protect their remaining independence. For example, with our dignified continence care services, we can help safeguard them from the consequences of unmanaged incontinence, such as infections. Severe infections can be debilitating and rob seniors of their autonomy, so preventing them is necessary.
Engaging Experiences That Support Better Physical and Cognitive Wellness
A robust calendar of physical, social, and recreational activities and events awaits Discovery Commons San Ramon residents daily. Our dedicated team works hard to plan these activities designed to enrich our seniors' everyday lives:
- Exercise classes
- Sporting events
- Arts and crafts
- Educational courses
- Social hours
- Birthday parties and celebrations
- Wellness programs, including mindfulness and yoga
Our community is also proud of its talented team of culinary experts who are always ready to provide exceptional dining experiences. They understand and recognize the importance of good nutrition to managing (even preventing) stroke and memory problems, so they carefully whip up delicious, nutritious meals for our residents daily. Their cooking prowess and knowledge can cater to various appetites and specific nutritional requirements, such as heart-healthy, gluten-free, or vegan options.
Live Life to the Fullest Even With Post-Stroke Memory Loss
As discussed in this guide, the answer to the question, "Can a stroke cause memory loss?" is yes. In some cases, it may even lead to vascular dementia.
If you have an older loved one dealing with memory loss following a stroke or dementia diagnosis, we highly encourage you to consider helping them transition to Discovery Commons San Ramon, our warm, loving, and compassionate assisted living and memory care community in San Ramon, CA. Here, your beloved family member can continue to enjoy every day to the fullest with our highly personalized memory care, supportive services, and many amenities designed to support physical, mental, and cognitive wellness.
Reach out to us today! We'd love to hear from you and give you a tour of our beautiful senior living community.