Brain science has revealed that stroke and depression are closely linked. One large study (funded by the National Institutes of Health) found that people with depression are far more likely to suffer a stroke. In fact, high levels of depressive symptoms increased stroke risk by 73 percent, while moderate symptoms raised the risk by 25 percent.
Other studies show that at least two-thirds of stroke victims develop depression. People who have strokes in the left front part of the brain seem to be at increased risk, for reasons that are not yet clear. Post-stroke depression can severely interfere with recovery, and triples the risk of dying in the years immediately following a stroke.
Despite its prevalence, depression following stroke is not often recognized or properly treated. Believing that depression is a normal reaction to suffering a stroke could prevent people from seeking and getting help.
Good news: Antidepressants—especially those that act on the brain chemical serotonin—can greatly improve symptoms of post-stroke depression. Many experts believe that treating depression symptoms will speed stroke recovery, and studies are underway to determine which therapies are best.
Also, advances in our understanding of how the brain functions and repairs itself following injury have improved stroke recovery. A number of studies are investigating which rehabilitation strategies work best in which people. Beginning rehabilitation immediately seems to be critical to helping stroke victims recover lost function.
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