Have you ever thought about how quickly life can change after a stroke? When someone experiences a stroke, it can accelerate the loss of cognitive ability moving forward. Stroke also remains the fifth leading cause of mortality in the United States! A recent study highlighted that Black Americans and those living in rural areas are more likely to pass away outside of specialized care settings such as senior living communities. Researchers shared these findings in Trends and disparities in ischemic stroke mortality and location of death in the United States: A comprehensive analysis from 1999–2020 published by PLOS One.

Jason Lim, a medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine, pointed out that advancements in home-based palliative and hospice services may now make it more feasible to receive high-quality end-of-life care outside of a hospital. An increase in deaths at home, according to Lim, isn’t always about a lack of access to care. Honestly, this perspective is refreshing compared to assuming that some individuals simply can’t get the care they deserve. More on this topic can be found in the article More people die from stroke at home than in hospitals reported by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.

Also, did you know that stroke survivors who have completed higher education may actually experience even sharper mental declines? A study led by Michigan Medicine revealed that attending higher education may enable individuals to retain greater cognitive ability until reaching a critical threshold of brain injury after a stroke. At that point, compensation fails, and rapid cognitive decline sets in. Melanie V. Springer, M.D., M.S., first author and Thomas H. and Susan C. Brown Early Career Professor of Neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School, noted that brain atrophy continues over time regardless of education level, as shared by Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan.

If that isn’t enough to give us all a moment of reflection, consider this: another study found stroke survivors are at a significantly high risk of developing dementia. Nearly one-fifth of stroke survivors were diagnosed with dementia, showing an 80% higher risk compared to those without a stroke history. These findings were published in the study Magnitude and Time-Course of Dementia Risk in Stroke Survivors: A Population-Wide Matched Cohort Study available through PubMed. Bottom line, dementia prevention efforts targeted at stroke survivors should be a priority moving forward.

As for the rest of us? Stay healthy, live well, and know the risk factors for stroke. Modify your lifestyle where needed because, at the end of the day, no one is promised a healthy tomorrow—embrace the day!

Stay well and stay informed!