The Frontal Lobe Stroke – some info you need to Know

The Frontal Lobe Stroke – some info you need to Know

 

The frontal lobe is the largest part of the brain. It handles and control high level cognitive functions. These includes language and speech, memory, resolving problems, and making judgment. The frontal lobe also plays a huge role in our emotional expressions, personality traits, and movements. As a result, if an individual suffered a frontal lobe stroke and does not know where and how to start recovery may be very difficult.

This article will discuss some functions of this brain region and types of stroke that can occur in it.

Functions of the Frontal Lobe

The frontal lobe is made up of two lobes that are paired together. They are the left and right frontal cortex. Combined, these lobe makeup about two-thirds of the brain and help control many functions. Below are some of the functions that the frontal lobe is known to control:

       Speech and language: The left half of the frontal lobe helps a person to form thoughts into verbal language. While other parts of the frontal lobe helps a person with developing language skills.

       Motor skills. The frontal lobe is where the primary motor cortex resides, it is an area of the brain that controls muscular movements. The activities in this area of the brain makes it possible for a person to perform functions such as walking, running, and any other physical movement that someone want to engage in.

       Executive functions: The frontal lobe plays very important role in a person’s ability to plan, make decisions, manage their needs, and handle multiple tasks at once, (multi-tasking). It is also known to play major roles in attention and concentration functions.

       Empathy and social skills: The frontal lobe is known to help a person understand the feelings of others. It can also help an individual show fellow feeling or empathy.

A frontal lobe stroke can impair any or many of these skills and abilities. For effective recovery it can be helpful to seek the advice of a neurologist about which hemisphere of the brain was affected by the frontal lobe stroke, as it may have some serious consequences on a survivor’s recovery.

Having seen some of the functions of the frontal lobe we will next consider two types of strokes that are common with that area of the brain.

Types of Stroke that affects the Frontal Lobe

There are two types of stroke that can affect the frontal lobe (and all other areas of the brain).

The first is ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot becomes clogged in a brain artery depriving this part of the brain of oxygen rich blood.

The second type is a hemorrhagic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in the brain. Because the frontal lobe is responsible for a large part of the brain, the likelihood of a frontal lobe stroke are higher than subcortical strokes which occur deep within the brain.

Additionally, the frontal lobe is divided into two hemispheres where each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. As a result, motor impairments usually occur on the side of the body opposite to the stroke. In other words, a right frontal lobe stroke may hamper movement on the left side of the body; and a left frontal lobe stroke may impair movement on the right side.

Some Common Side Effects Of Frontal Lobe Stroke

• The frontal lobe is responsible for a wide variety of functions. When it is damaged by a stroke, many of these functions can be disrupted. Here are some of the most common aftereffects of frontal lobe stroke:
• Hemiparesis or hemiplegia: This involves weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, usually the opposite side of the body to the area of the brain where the stroke occurred. The frontal lobe controls voluntary movement. As a result, motor issues after a frontal lobe stroke are very common.
• Speech difficulties: This is particularly common after left frontal lobe strokes, as the left hemisphere is usually the language center of the brain. The fact is that every individual brain is wired differently though, for this reason no brain function is controlled solely in one hemisphere alone.
• Dysphagia: Is a condition that makes swallowing difficult. This can occur after a frontal lobe stroke. Some patients who suffered sever frontal lobe stroke may require a feeding tube as a result of swallowing difficulties.
• Ataxia: This is a stroke aftereffect that makes movement coordination difficulty. It can occur when the frontal lobe’s control of voluntary movement is impaired. Ataxia can affect movement in areas such as the limbs, eyes, speech and even swallowing.
• Incontinence: When a frontal lobe stroke survivor loses the ability to control their bladder or bowel movements (which are functions controlled by muscles), such condition is known as incontinence.
• Reduced spatial reasoning: Because the frontal lobe controls our spatial awareness, a frontal lobe stroke may affect a patients ability to identify the location of things they see, feel, or hear, and may cause difficulties with moving around even in familiar environment.
• Vascular dementia: This is a term used to describe a condition where a person losses many important cognitive skills such as impulsive control, memory, and attention. It can also be associated with strange behaviors. Vascular dementia is sometimes caused by a stroke, but can also occur due to other factors too.
• Behavioral changes: Some frontal lobe stroke side effects are often not as sever as dementia. As a result some frontal lobe stroke survivors may experience lesser behavioral changes, such as been irritable and impulsive behaviors.
• Personality changes: Stroke can affects an individual’s way of thinking, actions, and beliefs and these can result in personality changes. The fact is that after a stroke, a person’s life will hardly remain the same. Some changes are forced, while others are developed.
• Cognitive impairment: The frontal lobe play essential role in executive functioning. A stroke in this area of the brain may impair a patient’s ability to think critically, make decisions, and manage their needs.
• We have seen some possible side effects of a frontal lobe stroke, essentially because the frontal lobe controls many different functions. As you already know, every stroke is different, and every brain is wired somehow differently. Therefore, every frontal lobe stroke survivor may experience different side effects. The good thing about the brain is that it can heal itself after a frontal lobe stroke, and sometimes, if not in all cases, side effects can be treated with intensive therapies and hard work. The next section will focus on how the concept called neuroplasticity can help the brain recover after a frontal lobe stroke.

Summary:

The frontal lobe handles and control high level cognitive functions such as, language and speech, memory, resolving problems, and making judgment.  There are two types of stroke that can affect the frontal lobe, ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes. A stroke in this area of the brain will affect functions performed by this brain region and the effects will depend on the damage sustained.

Book to link:” Stroke and Your Brain- eleven regions that should matter to you.” Part one and two.