Can memory woes foretell a stroke?
Well-educated people who report memory problems may face a higher risk of stroke. Education helps people develop more widespread brain networks, which enables them to compensate for damage from tiny, unnoticed strokes. But these small strokes can foretell larger, more serious strokes. Because educated people are more likely to notice subtle memory changes, their memory complaints are a more reliable predictor of stroke than memory complaints in less-educated people. Controlling blood pressure and exercising regularly are important ways to prevent strokes.
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