Discover the Surprising Differences Between Cortical and Subcortical Stroke and How They Affect Your Brain Function! Neuroscience Tips Inside.
| Step | Action | Novel Insight | Risk Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the difference between cortical and subcortical stroke. | Cortical stroke occurs in the outer layer of the brain, while subcortical stroke occurs in the deeper parts of the brain. | High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol are all risk factors for stroke. |
| 2 | Recognize the symptoms of each type of stroke. | Cortical stroke can cause motor function impairment, sensory deficits, and aphasia, while subcortical stroke can cause hemiparesis and neglect syndrome. | Age, family history, and previous strokes are also risk factors for stroke. |
| 3 | Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect a stroke. | Time is critical in treating stroke, as early intervention can minimize brain damage and improve outcomes. | Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can also play a role in stroke prevention. |
| 4 | Follow a comprehensive stroke rehabilitation program. | Rehabilitation can help improve motor function, speech, and cognitive abilities after a stroke. | Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider can help monitor and manage risk factors for stroke. |
| 5 | Stay informed about new research and treatments for stroke. | Advances in neuroscience are leading to new insights and treatments for stroke, including stem cell therapy and neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation. | Education and awareness can help reduce the incidence and impact of stroke in individuals and communities. |
Note: This table provides a brief overview of cortical and subcortical stroke, their symptoms, risk factors, and management. It is not intended to replace medical advice or diagnosis. If you or someone you know is experiencing stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Contents
- What is the Difference Between Cortical and Subcortical Stroke?
- What Are the Sensory Deficits Associated with Cortical and Subcortical Stroke?
- Aphasia: The Language Impairment Seen in Both Cortical and Subcortical Strokes
- Thrombotic vs Embolic Stroke: Which One Causes More Severe Symptoms?
- Common Mistakes And Misconceptions
- Related Resources
What is the Difference Between Cortical and Subcortical Stroke?
| Step | Action | Novel Insight | Risk Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define cortical and subcortical damage | Cortical damage impacts cognition, while subcortical damage impacts movement | Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol |
| 2 | Explain the difference between cortical and subcortical strokes | Cortical strokes often cause aphasia and affect perception, while subcortical strokes may cause tremors and affect coordination. Cortical infarcts involve gray matter, while subcortical infarcts involve white matter. The corticospinal tract is affected in subcortex, while Broca’s area is affected in cortex. Motor deficits are common with subcortex lesion, while cognitive deficits are common with cortex lesion | Age, family history of stroke, and previous stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) are also risk factors |
| 3 | Describe the location of cortical and subcortical damage | The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain, while the sub-cortex is below the cortex | Other risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption |
| 4 | Summarize the impact of cortical and subcortical damage | Cortical damage affects higher-level cognitive functions, while subcortical damage affects more basic motor functions. Both types of damage can have significant impacts on quality of life | Certain medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation and sickle cell disease, can also increase the risk of stroke |
What Are the Sensory Deficits Associated with Cortical and Subcortical Stroke?
| Step | Action | Novel Insight | Risk Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the type of stroke | Cortical stroke affects the outer layer of the brain, while subcortical stroke affects the deeper structures | Age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, family history |
| 2 | Assess for hemiparesis | Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body | Previous stroke, heart disease, atrial fibrillation |
| 3 | Check for hemianopsia | Loss of vision in one half of the visual field | High blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol |
| 4 | Look for apraxia | Difficulty with purposeful movements | Previous stroke, traumatic brain injury |
| 5 | Assess for agnosia | Difficulty recognizing objects or people | Previous stroke, dementia |
| 6 | Check for dysarthria | Difficulty with speech production | Previous stroke, traumatic brain injury |
| 7 | Look for dysphagia | Difficulty with swallowing | Previous stroke, Parkinson’s disease |
| 8 | Assess for neglect syndrome | Lack of awareness of one side of the body or environment | Previous stroke, traumatic brain injury |
| 9 | Check for ataxia | Lack of coordination and balance | Previous stroke, multiple sclerosis |
| 10 | Look for hypoesthesia | Decreased sensation | Previous stroke, peripheral neuropathy |
| 11 | Assess for paresthesias | Abnormal sensations such as tingling or numbness | Previous stroke, diabetes |
| 12 | Check for dysmetria | Difficulty with judging distance or range of movement | Previous stroke, traumatic brain injury |
| 13 | Look for tremors | Involuntary shaking or trembling | Previous stroke, Parkinson’s disease |
| 14 | Assess for spasticity | Stiffness or tightness in muscles | Previous stroke, multiple sclerosis |
Aphasia: The Language Impairment Seen in Both Cortical and Subcortical Strokes
| Step | Action | Novel Insight | Risk Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand what aphasia is. | Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to use and understand language. | Age, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes are all risk factors for stroke, which can lead to aphasia. |
| 2 | Know the difference between cortical and subcortical strokes. | Cortical strokes occur in the outer layer of the brain, while subcortical strokes occur in the deeper parts of the brain. | High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are all risk factors for stroke, which can lead to aphasia. |
| 3 | Understand how aphasia presents in both types of stroke. | In cortical strokes, aphasia often presents as difficulty with language production, such as speaking, writing, and naming objects. In subcortical strokes, aphasia often presents as difficulty with language comprehension, such as understanding spoken or written language. | Age, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes are all risk factors for stroke, which can lead to aphasia. |
| 4 | Know the different types of language impairments seen in aphasia. | Speech difficulty, reading problems, writing difficulties, naming difficulties, comprehension issues, repetition deficits, fluency impairments, and articulation problems are all types of language impairments that can be seen in aphasia. | High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are all risk factors for stroke, which can lead to aphasia. |
| 5 | Understand the importance of speech therapy in treating aphasia. | Speech therapy can help individuals with aphasia improve their language skills and communication abilities. | Age, high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes are all risk factors for stroke, which can lead to aphasia. |
Thrombotic vs Embolic Stroke: Which One Causes More Severe Symptoms?
| Step | Action | Novel Insight | Risk Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the difference between thrombotic and embolic strokes | Thrombotic strokes occur when a blood clot forms in an artery that supplies blood to the brain, while embolic strokes occur when a blood clot or other debris travels from another part of the body and blocks an artery in the brain. | Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption increase the risk of both types of strokes. |
| 2 | Identify the symptoms of thrombotic and embolic strokes | Thrombotic strokes tend to cause more severe symptoms because the blockage is usually larger and occurs closer to the brain. Symptoms may include hemiparesis, speech impairment, and cognitive dysfunction. Embolic strokes may cause similar symptoms, but they tend to be more sudden and severe. | Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of embolic strokes, while cerebral embolism can also be caused by other sources such as blood clots in the legs or lungs. |
| 3 | Consider treatment options for thrombotic and embolic strokes | Treatment options for both types of strokes include medications to dissolve blood clots, surgery to remove the clot, and rehabilitation to address neurological deficits. However, the timing and effectiveness of these treatments may vary depending on the type of stroke and the severity of the symptoms. | Risk factors for strokes can be managed through lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Medications may also be prescribed to manage hypertension and diabetes. |
Common Mistakes And Misconceptions
| Mistake/Misconception | Correct Viewpoint |
|---|---|
| Cortical and subcortical strokes are the same thing. | Cortical and subcortical strokes are different types of strokes that affect different parts of the brain. Cortical strokes occur in the outer layer (cortex) of the brain, while subcortical strokes occur in deeper structures beneath the cortex. |
| Only one side of the body is affected by a cortical or subcortical stroke. | Depending on which part of the brain is affected, both sides of the body can be impacted by a cortical or subcortical stroke. For example, if a stroke occurs in an area that controls movement on one side of the brain, it may cause weakness or paralysis on the opposite side of the body. |
| All symptoms disappear after recovery from a cortical or subcortical stroke. | While some people may fully recover from a cortical or subcortical stroke with no lasting effects, others may experience long-term physical and cognitive impairments such as difficulty speaking, memory loss, and emotional changes even after rehabilitation therapy has ended. The extent and duration of these symptoms vary depending on several factors including age at onset, severity and location of damage to brain tissue among others. |
| A person who has had a previous stroke cannot have another one. | Having had one stroke increases your risk for having another one; therefore individuals who have experienced either type should take steps to reduce their risk factors for future events like controlling blood pressure levels through medication adherence , eating healthy diets rich in fruits vegetables whole grains lean proteins low-fat dairy products etc., exercising regularly under medical supervision among other measures recommended by healthcare professionals. |