Silent brain strokes , unlike normal brain strokes, do not have symptoms. They can go undetected for years. Also known as silent cerebral infarction, silent brain strokes do not have symptoms such as sudden weakness, speech difficulties, or facial drooping.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Raghvendra Ramdasi, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, said, “Despite their subtlety, these strokes can cause significant damage to brain tissue and may lead to cognitive decline or increase the risk of future strokes. Also called small strokes, silent strokes can happen in a section of the brain without causing any outward symptoms. However, having several silent strokes can still raise your risk of having a big stroke and seriously harm your brain.
” ALSO READ: Understanding the different types of brain strokes: Neurologist explains Why do silent brain strokes happen? “Silent brain strokes occur when blood flow to a part of the brain is temporarily blocked, leading to tissue death. This can happen due to small blood clots, narrowed blood vessels, or atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries). The brain’s ability to compensate for these small injuries can make them go unnoticed, but the cumulative damage can be severe,” added Dr Raghvendra Ramdasi.
Who is prone to silent brain strokes? Elderly individuals : Age is a major risk factor and can accelerate the chances of silent brain strokes. People with high blood pressure : Hypertension is a leading caus.