Working After a Stroke Tied to Less Cognitive Decline

Studies are now showing that adults who are of working age (18-65 years old) that have had a stroke are more likely to avoid a large number of health and mental illness issues if they continue to work after suffering from a stroke.

 

Longer term studies have indicated that working after a stroke helps individuals to maintain higher levels of cognitive functioning moving forward. This makes a lot of sense. Although a stroke is a cardiovascular event, it does impact blood and oxygen flow to the brain, which has a profound impact on cognitive abilities. When oxygen flow to the brain is restricted even momentarily, physical and mental disability can easily result. Studies also indicate that there is a high rate of correlation between stroke and the future development of dementia. Depression also became a larger concern for those that were unable to work after a stroke.

 

One of the more interesting components of this study was that those who were unemployed before suffering a stroke were more than three times more likely to suffer from cognitive decline within two years of the stroke. It’s hard to say whether this was because these individuals were already in poor health or in higher risk categories, or whether the fact that work can prevent stroke somehow is unclear.

 

Staying active after a stroke might help reduce cognitive decline.

 

Dr. Elinor Ben Assayag of the Tel Aviv Sorasky Medical Center in Israel commented that “the message here is keep on working.” It might not be possible for everyone who has a stroke to return to work, or even to live the same type of life that they once did, but there is definite value in taking strides to stay as active as possible. Even if the only impact of doing so is improved health because of increased physical activity, there is an increased chance of better overall health in the future.

 

It can be tempting to leave a job after such a major health problem. Strokes are not minor illnesses. The disability that can result from a stroke can be severe and it can be permanent. In many cases, it is impossible for someone to return to work at the same capacity that they once did. However, there is still great value gained from doing something versus doing nothing. Even if you or an elderly loved one cannot return to the job that you once had, there are other things that can be done. Not only will this type of work keep you busy, it will also help improve your health, if the study referenced above is accurate.

 

Having a loved one that has suffered a stroke is a difficult event. It is one that impacts the whole family, and it can be difficult because the full impact of a stroke is hard to tell until well into the future. Disability can continue to manifest itself for quite a while, and it can be close to impossible to tell whether that disability will be permanent. During this process, having a caregiver on your side to help may be necessary. If you have questions about care, feel free to get in touch with us today.

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