How a stroke raises dementia risk in the short term, and for decades afterwards – losing the ability to read, or speak, causes social isolation

One in four people who have a stroke develop dementia, as neural damage causes cognitive loss that can reduce social interaction and intellectual engagement

Unsurprisingly, the risk of dementia triples for three to 12 months after a stroke, but research has found that the risk persists for up to 20 years afterwards

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A stroke can cause loss in abilities such as reading and speaking, and may promote sensory and social isolation and decrease social and intellectual stimulation.
Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15am, 18 Mar 2024Updated: 3:31pm, 18 Mar 2024

This is the 32nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope.

When my mother had a stroke four years before the first signs of dementia were visible to us, she lost her ability to read.

After her stroke she developed a rare condition called pure alexia – acquired reading impairment without losing the ability to spell and write; she went, overnight, from being able to read words on a page to not being able to fathom a single one.

“This is all rubbish,” she announced. It was the only sign of stroke that she exhibited outwardly.

The dementia risk early after stroke may be caused by direct brain injury in parts of the brain that affect cognitive function. But this risk persists for up to 20 years. Photo: Shutterstock

Stroke presents as a significant risk factor for dementia later and is likely to have caused – certainly contributed – to my mother’s.

One in four people who suffer a stroke go on to develop dementia. And one in four people will have a stroke in their lifetime.

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Decoding dementia

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