What is a Silent Stroke?

Most people think of a stroke as an event that causes major disability. This is not always true. Strokes come in different flavors, and one of the these flavors causes no symptoms at all. In a recent study, 11% of people who considered themselves stroke-free had at least one previous stroke on MRI! How on earth can you have a stroke and not notice it?

Stroke symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain that is affected. For instance, strokes that affect areas of minimal importance in day to day brain activity (these areas are normally known as non-eloquent brain areas) typically produce mild or unnoticeable symptoms. By contrast, strokes that affect areas of maximal importance cause the most debilitating and noticeable symptoms.

An unusual but possible example of a silent stroke is one affecting the smell areas of the brain.

Recommended reading:
Stroke Symptoms
Coumadin for Stroke Prevention
Comprehensive Stroke Hospitals