My aunt, who is 83, keeps on getting episodes of confusion, and at other times she is ok. She has been diagnosed with dementia, but because the episodes come and go, we are very concerned about an early stroke. What should we be looking for to prevent stroke?
First of all, people with dementia can have varying degrees of loss of memory and what appears to be confusion. So it is likely that these symptoms are just related to the dementia. While confusion can be a sign of a stroke, the most common symptoms are slurred speech and weakness on one side of the body. Sometimes there is also confusion, and difficulty finding the right words, in addition to the slurred speech. If you think a family member is having a stroke, it is a medical emergency, and you should call 911. There are treatments for patients that present early in a stroke that can save some of the brain tissue from dying.
Expert: Beth Israel, NY
For more information on strokes, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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