#strokechat on Twitter with Dr. Sandra Black September 21 is World Alzheimer's Day and to draw attention to the issue, we hosted a live Twitter chat about silent strokes: how you can prevent them and how they're linked to Alzheimer's.
Internationally renowned neurologist Dr. Sandra Black joined us to chat about the impact of silent strokes on dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.
View the archive of the Twitter chat:
[<a href="http://storify.com/SunnybrookHSC/strokechat-with-dr-sandra-black" mce_href="http://storify.com/SunnybrookHSC/strokechat-with-dr-sandra-black" target="_blank">View the story "#strokechat with Dr. Sandra Black " on Storify</a>]<h1>#strokechat with Dr. Sandra Black </h1><h2>Sept. 21, 2012 is World Alzheimer's Day, and to draw attention to the issue, Sunnybrook hosted a live Twitter chat about silent strokes: how you can prevent them and how they're linked to Alzheimer's. Renowned neurologist Dr. Sandra Black was on hand to share her expertise and answer questions!</h2><p>Storified by Sunnybrook Hospital · Fri, Sep 21 2012 12:55:53</p><div>undefinedFbcdn</div><div>It's #WorldAlzheimersDay - how are silent strokes + #alzheimers related? Join our Dr. Black at noon for #strokechat http://ow.ly/dT8j8Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Prof. Sandra Black will be hosting a Twitter chat about silent strokes today at noon. Follow @SunnybrookHSC to join #strokechat !UofT Medicine</div><div>RT @SunnybrookHSC: Renowned neurologist Dr Black joins us at noon for #strokechat to talk silent strokes + #Alzheimers http://t.co/3aL11 ...OntarioInnovation</div><div>Welcome Dr. Black to #strokechat ! We'll start with a few questions, and if you have a Q about silent strokes or #alzheimers - tweet us!Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Q for Dr. Black: What is a silent stroke? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: If sensory & movement control areas are spared, a stroke (small or big) may seem silent but can affect cognition + behaviour. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Q for Dr. Black: "Silent strokes" have been called big trouble. What's the prevalence among Canadians? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: The prevalence of small strokes is 25% in the elderly. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Q for Dr. Black: My 82yo mom has problems w/ her memory. My doc says they may be due to silent strokes. How do you prevent them? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: How to prevent silent strokes: control hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Don’t smoke. Eat healthy. Exercise. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>@SunnybrookHSC Q: How are silent strokes related to Alzheimer's disease? #strokechatAbby Li</div><div>Great question! Answer coming up RT @AbbyLi_36: @SunnybrookHSC Q: How are silent strokes related to Alzheimer's disease? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: Silent strokes and #Alzheimers can be related. Each and both can cause memory loss. #strokechat (part 1 of 3)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: The white matter disease may result from scarring of the deep brain veins that keep amyloid exit from the brain. #strokechat (2 of 3)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: Hence this can cause amyloid build-up and accelerate #Alzheimers. #strokechat (3 of 3)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>@SunnybrookHSC Hello from Chicago. If silent strokes are "silent", how would one know if they had one? #strokechat #AlzheimersRobin H.</div><div>Great Q! Answer coming MT @joyeful: @SunnybrookHSC Hello! If silent strokes are "silent", how would one know if they had one? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: "Silent" usually means no visible paralysis or sensory or visual loss. However, if you test mental function... #strokechat (1/2)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: ..silent strokes are more "noisy." They cause slowing of info processing & decreased efficiency in reasoning + planning #strokechat (2/2)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Questions about #stoke or #Alzheimers? Dr. Sandra Black is answering questions right now at #strokechat hosted by @SunnybrookHSC.IHLH</div><div>Dr. Black shared a few interesting "did you know" facts:</div><div>Dr. Black: We often use the term "covert strokes" to hint at them as an underground operation that can sabotage graceful aging. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: Silent strokes can contribute to #Alzheimers - but guess what? #Alzheimers is a cause of #stroke. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: Amyloid can plug small blood vessels in the brain or weaken their walls... #strokechat (1/2)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: This can cause blockage of small arteries causing stroke. Weakened vessels can also leak or burst causing clots #strokechat (2/2)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>RT @AbbyLi_36: @SunnybrookHSC Dr Black, you mentioned "white matter disease" and "amyloid". What are those? #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: Amyloid is a toxic protein produced by brain cells that needs to be cleared away for brain health. #strokechat (1/2)Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>A: Amyloid proteins can kill brain cells + stick together in deposits interrupting communication from 1 brain region to another. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: Btw, silent strokes can also be associated with depression, irritability, rigidity and apathy. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: The commonest cause of #dementia is actually a combo of #Alzheimers + silent strokes. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr Black: #Alzheimers + #strokes share common vascular risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr Black: Most important things to do: keep blood pressure controlled, eat healthy, control cholesterol + weight, don't smoke #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Dr. Black: And surprisingly, physical exercise appears to be one of the most potent ways to keep your brain young. #strokechatSunnybrook Hospital</div><div>That's a wrap! Thank you Dr. Black for joining us for #strokechat - and thank you all for the questions!Sunnybrook Hospital</div><div>Thanks to all who joined in the convo by asking questions or sharing Dr. Black's tweets, including: <a href="http://twitter.com/UofTmedicine" mce_href="http://twitter.com/UofTmedicine" class="">@UofTmedicine</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/OntInnovation" mce_href="http://twitter.com/OntInnovation" class="">@OntInnovation</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/@CICCUHN" mce_href="http://twitter.com/@CICCUHN" class="">@CICCUHN</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/HeartandLung" mce_href="http://twitter.com/HeartandLung" class="">@HeartandLung</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/RougeValley" mce_href="http://twitter.com/RougeValley" class="">@RougeValley</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/StMikesHospital" mce_href="http://twitter.com/StMikesHospital" class="">@StMikesHospital</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/AbbyLi_36" mce_href="http://twitter.com/AbbyLi_36" class="">@AbbyLi_36</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/nottubelad" mce_href="http://twitter.com/nottubelad" class="">@nottubelad</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/egammada" mce_href="http://twitter.com/egammada" class="">@egammada</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/joyeful" mce_href="http://twitter.com/joyeful" class="">@joyeful</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/telestrokeIn" mce_href="http://twitter.com/telestrokeIn" class="">@telestrokeIn</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/sunzk" mce_href="http://twitter.com/sunzk" class="">@sunzk</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/tzuzan" mce_href="http://twitter.com/tzuzan" class="">@tzuzan</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/ynq25335" mce_href="http://twitter.com/ynq25335" class="">@ynq25335</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/Carolyn_Bennett" mce_href="http://twitter.com/Carolyn_Bennett" class="">@Carolyn_Bennett</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/burkedia" mce_href="http://twitter.com/burkedia" class="">@burkedia</a></div><div>Our next Twitter chat is October 1, 2012 at noon. We'll be chatting with Dr. Kathy Pritchard, head of the breast cancer site group, about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. </div>
