Changes in Thinking and Behavior Resulting from Stroke
Certain changes you experience could be related to the brain damage caused by your stroke. Those
changes may include:
Apathy
Strokes can affect the parts of the brain that get us going, stimulate our interest in things, and drive
us to want to be active and stay involved in the world. Post-stroke apathy is different from depression
(although it may look very much like it), and may require an evaluation by a neuropsychologist to
sort it out. Treatment may be different from that for depression.
Memory Loss
You may need reminders or prompts to finish a sentence or certain tasks. Doing things in a more
highly structured manner may help.
Perception/Concentration Problems
These are common after stroke. Social situations can be especially difficult for people with these
problems. Choose to attend small, quiet, slow-paced gatherings.
18 © 2010 NATIONAL STROKE ASSOCIATION
One-sided Neglect
Damage to the right side of the brain can cause you to neglect literally half – usually the left side – of your
world. You may ignore the left side of the face when washing, or may not eat food on the left side of the
plate. If you move your head to the left, neglected objects usually become noticed.
Emotional Lability (also called pseudobulbar affect, or PBA)
Sudden laughing or crying for no apparent reason and difficulty controlling emotional responses
are common after stroke. Oddly, there may be no real mood changes involved, and the emotional
display may end very quickly.
Medicine may be prescribed to help the problem, though it frequently lessens and may go away on
its own over time.