Prevention methods for aphasia:

Because most cases of aphasia are caused by stroke, the most effective way of preventing aphasia may be to protect the body against stroke. Prevention methods for stroke may include:

• Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension). Blood pressure abnormalities must be continually monitored and controlled because they are a chief contributor to strokes.

• Refraining from or quitting smoking. The risk of stroke begins to decrease a few years after a person quits smoking.

• Getting treatment for atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) or atrial flutter.

• Getting treatment for sleep apnea.

• Learning stress management techniques and seeking help for depression or drug abuse. Cocaine, especially, has been linked to hemorrhagic stroke.

• Reducing cholesterol levels, perhaps by taking cholesterol-reducing drugs.

• Increasing one’s level of exercise. The U.S. surgeon general recommends that adults participate in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

• Maintaining an ideal weight.

• Limiting use of alcohol to about one glass of wine or one beer per day.

• Controlling diabetes (a disorder in which the body is unable to produce or properly use the hormone insulin).

• Eating a heart-healthy diet.

People can also reduce their risk of head injury, which can cause aphasia, by wearing a seatbelt while traveling in a car and wearing protective head gear when appropriate (e.g., while bicycling, rollerblading, playing contact sports).

Many other causes of aphasia (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumor) may not be prevented.