The Unexpected Link Between Language and Stroke

A study published in Neurology found that Mexican Americans who spoke only Spanish had worse neurological outcomes three months after a stroke compared to those who were bilingual or spoke only English. The study involved 1,096 Mexican American stroke patients in Corpus Christi, Texas, and found that Spanish-only speakers had higher neurologic scores indicating moderate effects from the stroke, while English-only and bilingual speakers had lower scores indicating mild effects. However, there was no difference between the groups in their ability to complete daily activities or in their cognitive abilities. Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing these outcomes.