Week 4: CVA Introduction

Question 1

What is an acquired brain injury (ABI)

Answer 1

• Multiple disabilities arising from any damage to the brain that occurs after birth
– Differentiates congenital disabilities
• Results in deterioration in cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functioning
• “Hidden Disability”
– Impairments that affect thinking, emotion and behaviour are more difficult to recognise than physical disabilities

Question 2

What are common causes of ABI

Answer 2

Damage can be caused by stroke, accident or trauma,brain infection, alcohol or other drugs and disease

• stroke (leading cause)
• Accidents/trauma: TBI (second)
• Tumour
• Infection
• Poisoning/ toxins
• hypoxia/ anoxia
• degenerative neurological disease eg Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, huntingtons and alzheimers

Question 3

Provide some statistics around ABI

Answer 3

• Over 700,000 Australians have an ABI resulting in daily activity limitations and participation restriction
• 75% of Australians living with an ABI are aged 65 or under
• 2/3 of ABIs are acquired before the age of 25
• 75% of people with a brain injury are men

Question 4

What is a stroke

Answer 4

A clinical syndrome characterised by rapidly developing clinical signs of focal, and at times global disturbance of cerebral function

• symptoms last >24 hours or cause death
• no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin
• sudden and unexpected

Question 5

What is an transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Answer 5

• Focal neurological symptoms due to focal ischaemia that have fully resolved
– Typically last <10 minutes
– All symptoms fully resolve within 24 hours
• Relatively benign in terms of immediate consequences
– Symptoms resolve
• ‘Warning Stroke’ more appropriate than ‘Mini Stroke’
– Direct sign that a stroke may potentially occur
– Highest risk within first two days
• Medical emergency
- treat like a stroke

Question 6

What are risk factors for a stroke

Answer 6

Non-modifiable
• Age (↑ age —>↑ risk)
• Gender (male > female)
• Family history 
• TIA

Modifiable (Lifestyle)
• HTN
• AF
• Diabetes
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Smoking (tobacco)
• Obese/ overweight
• Inadequate nutrition
• Inactivity
• Excessive alcohol consumption 
• Fibromuscular Dysplasia

Note: more than 80% of strokes can be prevented