Hidden Signs Of Stroke

Strokes seem to come on with a frightening suddenness, but new research in the journal Stroke suggests that subtle signs may be measurable as much as 10 years beforehand. The finding comes out of a study of 2,175 men and women ages 33 to 88 with no history of stroke or dementia. Researchers found that as the risk of stroke increased — indicated by variables like age, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking status, history of heart disease — the subjects' cognitive functions declined, perhaps owing to small, undetectable changes in the brain. "People don't just wake up one morning and find they are demented," says lead author Merrill Elias. "They progress over time."