Engaging Introduction

Let me tell you about the phone call that changed how I think about "temporary" symptoms.

My grandfather was 78. Healthy. Sharp. Still played golf twice a week. One morning, my grandmother called, her voice trembling. "Something happened to your grandfather," she said. "He was eating breakfast, and suddenly he couldn't lift his coffee cup. His right hand just... dropped it. Then he tried to speak, and the words came out wrong. He said 'the blue... the sky... the color...' He couldn't finish a sentence."

By the time she finished telling me this, his symptoms had disappeared. Completely. He was talking normally. He could lift his arm. He insisted he was fine.

"Don't let him go to bed," I said. "Take him to the hospital. Now."

He didn't want to go. He felt fine. It was probably nothing, he said. Just a weird fluke.

We insisted.

At the hospital, the doctor confirmed what we feared: he'd had a transient ischemic attack (TIA)—a "mini stroke." And he was at high risk of a major stroke within the next 48 hours.

A mini stroke—medically known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)—is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. While symptoms usually resolve within minutes to hours (and leave no permanent damage), a TIA is a major warning sign: about 1 in 3 people who have a TIA will go on to have a full-blown stroke, often within days or weeks.

For seniors, recognizing these subtle signs early can be life-saving. Never ignore them—even if they "go away."

Let me walk you through the five most common symptoms of a TIA in older adults. Then I'll tell you exactly what to do if you see them.

First, What Is a TIA (Mini Stroke)?

A TIA is often called a "warning stroke." It happens when blood flow to part of the brain is temporarily blocked, usually by a small clot. The blockage dissolves on its own (or moves) before it causes permanent brain damage.

The key difference between TIA and stroke:

TIA: Symptoms resolve completely within minutes to hours (usually less than 24 hours). No permanent brain damage. But it's a major warning sign.
Stroke: Symptoms persist. Brain cells die. Permanent damage is possible.

Why TIAs are so dangerous: A TIA tells you that there is a problem with your blood vessels. Another clot—perhaps a larger one—could form at any time. The risk of a major stroke is highest in the first 48 hours after a TIA.

The good news: TIAs are treatable. And with prompt medical care, you can dramatically reduce the risk of a future stroke.

But you have to recognize the symptoms first.