How early detection of stroke risk factors could protect your brain health
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– With recent news that actor Danny Glover has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, awareness of brain health is once again in the spotlight.
One New Hanover County resident is sharing how an unexpected health scare changed his life—and why understanding the risk factors for cognitive decline before symptoms appear could help protect your brain.
For Brian Jones, swimming is more than just exercise—it’s one of his favorite ways to spend a sunny day at Wrightsville Beach.
But one morning, everything changed.
“My left eye went completely black and I couldn’t see out of it,” Jones said.
He rushed to the doctor, where he learned he had suffered a stroke caused by a blocked carotid artery.
Additional testing uncovered health risks he never knew he had, including prediabetes and elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), a genetic cholesterol marker that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.
Healthcare providers say Jones’ experience is a reminder that brain health often depends on managing health conditions long before symptoms appear.
“Anything that is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes is a risk factor for dementia” said Carolina McCalmon, a physician assistant with Novant Neurology.
McCalmon said many people don’t think about brain health until they begin experiencing memory problems. However, she says taking steps to control blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, along with maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise routine, can help lower the risk of serious neurological conditions.
“We are trying to educate people,” McCalmon said. “The earlier you come to us, the more we can do.”
For Jones, discovering his risk factors was frightening, but it also motivated him to take a more active role in his health.
“Being active is better than being passive,” he said. “I feel like I’m taking control of the situation and doing something to improve my health span.”
Now, he hopes others will learn from his experience and seek preventive care before something goes wrong.
“Definitely follow the instructions,” Jones said. “The medicine that you don’t take doesn’t help you. Take all the meds. Do all those things very conscientiously. Make sure that you are being healthy and exercising.”
Jones hopes his story encourages others not to wait for warning signs before talking with their healthcare provider about their risk factors and taking steps to protect their long-term brain health.
70 million Americans are impacted by Alzheimer’s, and it’s predicted to double by 2050. To learn more, head to Novant Health’s website for more information
