A<unk>  (or asymptomatic cerebral infarction) is a<unk>  that does not have any outward symptoms associated with<unk> , and the patient is typically unaware they have suffered a<unk> . Despite not causing identifiable symptoms, a<unk>  still causes damage to the brain and places the patient at increased risk for both transient ischemic attack and major<unk>  in the future. In a broad study in 1998, more than 11 million people were estimated to have experienced a<unk>  in the United States. Approximately 770,000 of these<unk> s were symptomatic and 11 million were first-ever<unk>  MRI infarcts or hemorrhages.<unk> s typically cause lesions which are detected via the use of neuroimaging such as MRI. The risk of<unk>  increases with age but may also affect younger adults. Women appear to be at increased risk for<unk> , with hypertension and current cigarette smoking being amongst the predisposing factors. These types of<unk> s include lacunar and other ischemic<unk> s and minor hemorrhages. They may also include leukoaraiosis (changes in the white matter of the brain): the white matter is more susceptible to vascular blockage due to reduced amount of blood vessels as compared to the cerebral cortex. These<unk> s are termed<unk> " because they typically affect<unk> " regions of the brain that do not cause a noticeable change in an afflicted person’s motor functions such as contralateral paralysis, slurred speech, pain, or an alteration in the sense of touch. A<unk>  typically affects regions of the brain associated with various thought processes, mood regulation and cognitive functions and is a leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment and may also lead to a loss of urinary bladder control. In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population study conducted among 3,660 adults over the age of 65. 31% showed evidence of<unk>  in neuroimaging studies utilizing MRI. These individuals were unaware they had suffered a<unk> . It is estimated that<unk> s are five times more common than symptomatic<unk> . A<unk>  differs from a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In TIA symptoms of<unk>  are exhibited which may last from a few minutes to 24 hours before resolving. A TIA is a risk factor for having a major<unk>  and subsequent<unk> s in the future.
Silent stroke
Lacunar stroke
Transient ischemic attack
Watershed stroke
Heat stroke
Fatal insomnia
Shark attack
Posterior circulation infarct