Brain & Nervous System Stroke Living With The Effects of a Frontal Lobe Stroke By Jose Vega MD, PhD Jose Vega MD, PhD LinkedIn Jose Vega MD, PhD, is a board-certified neurologist and published researcher specializing in stroke. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 10, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD LinkedIn Nicholas R. Metrus, MD, is board-certified in neurology and neuro-oncology. He currently works at the Glasser Brain Tumor Center with Atlantic Health System in Summit, New Jersey. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Effects of a Frontal Lobe Stroke Muscle Weakness Speech and Language Problems Thinking Skills Behavior and Personality Changes The Location of the Frontal Lobe Blood Vessels That Supply the Frontal Lobe Size of a Frontal Lobe Stroke A Word From Verywell The effects of a stroke can differ depending on which region of the brain is involved. If you or a loved one has had a stroke involving the frontal lobe of the brain, then you might be seeing some very noticeable effects, such as leg weakness, arm weakness, or memory loss. The brain's frontal lobe is relatively large and controls many important functions in everyday life. A frontal lobe stroke can cause a variety of symptoms and long-term effects, which range from weakness to lack of motivation. Ways to Recognize a Stroke (And What You Can Do About It) Hugo Lin / Verywell Effects of a Frontal Lobe Stroke The complications that can occur after a frontal lobe stroke fall into four main categories. If you or a loved one has experienced a frontal lobe stroke, you may experience any combination of these effects. Muscle weakness Speech and language problems A decline in thinking skills Behavior and personality changes Muscle Weakness Weakness or paralysis is the most dramatic and noticeable effect of a frontal lobe stroke. The frontal lobe of the brain controls the movement of the opposite side of the body. A stroke that causes weakness (hemiparesis) or paralysis (hemiplegia) may produce obvious arm or leg weakness, but it can also cause any of the following symptoms as well: Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing Ataxia or damage to the body's ability to coordinate movement (balance, posture, walking) Urinary incontinence or inability to urinate due to loss of muscle control Speech and Language Problems There are several language areas of the brain, and they are located in the frontal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the parietal lobe. Language function is primarily located on one side of the brain. The side of the brain that controls language is called the dominant side, which is most often the left side. The comprehension of language is controlled by a region in the dominant temporal and parietal lobes of the brain, while fluent speech is produced by a region in the dominant frontal lobe of the brain. In addition to language function, there are several other key differences between the left and right sides of the brain. A dominant frontal lobe stroke affects a stroke survivor's ability to produce fluent speech and can result in a choppy speech pattern, sometimes with normal comprehension of language. This speech pattern characteristic of a dominant-sided frontal lobe stroke is called Broca’s aphasia. Thinking Skills The cognitive changes after a frontal lobe stroke may be subtle. Some people who repeatedly experience several small strokes involving the frontal lobes of the brain may develop a type of dementia called vascular dementia. Characteristic cognitive changes caused by a frontal lobe stroke include the following: Lack of initiative, mood changes, and inattentivenessDifficulty solving problems (goal-directed behavior) in different realms of cognition including psycholinguistic, constructive, logical, and arithmetical Behavior and Personality Changes Sometimes, behavioral changes may develop after a frontal lobe stroke. Some specific behavioral changes include excessive jealousy, loss of sense of humor, or an uncharacteristic lack of empathy. Other common behavioral changes after a frontal lobe stroke include the following: Profound lack of initiative and motivationSpontaneous expression of rude or odd remarksIrritabilityCarelessness and apathyInappropriate and seemingly random persistence and repetition of certain behaviorsBowel or bladder emptying when it is not socially appropriate The Location of the Frontal Lobe The left and right frontal lobes of the brain are large regions at the front of the brain that extends back towards the middle of the brain, accounting for approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the cerebral cortex. We have a left frontal lobe and a right frontal lobe. Blood Vessels That Supply the Frontal Lobe Like all strokes, a frontal lobe stroke is caused by interruption of blood flow to a region of the brain. This can be caused by blocked blood vessel or by a bleeding blood vessel. A frontal lobe stroke is caused by interruption of blood flow through any of the following arteries: The internal carotid artery or its branches The middle cerebral artery or its branches The anterior cerebral artery or its branches Usually, a frontal lobe stroke involves only the left frontal lobe or the right frontal lobe because each side receives blood from arteries on its own side. Size of a Frontal Lobe Stroke A frontal lobe stroke can be large or small, depending on whether interruption of blood flow occurs in one of the large blood vessels or in a small branch of a blood vessel. Because the frontal lobes are substantial in size, specific regions of the frontal lobe may be damaged by a stroke, while other regions are spared. If there is a great deal of swelling or bleeding immediately after a stroke, the short-term phase may be uncertain as the bleeding and swelling slowly resolves. A Word From Verywell A frontal lobe stroke can produce a variety of symptoms, some of which are more clearly related to the stroke (weakness) and some of which can be confused with depression or dementia. When a stroke produces weakness on one side of the body, physical rehabilitation is an essential part of recovery. When a stroke produces dementia, it can be difficult to distinguish the difference between dementia due to stroke and dementia due to another cause. The medical management of the two conditions is not the same, and if you understand the differences and similarities between a stroke and unrelated dementia, it will help you know what to expect. Most people who have had a frontal lobe stroke are able to experience some recovery of skills. The improvement is expected to take time and may be sporadic or irregular at times. It is important not to be discouraged, because often, stroke survivors continue to improve even after stabilizing. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Caswell J. American Heart Association. When stroke affects the frontal lobe. Stroke Connection. Pirau L, Lui F. Frontal lobe syndrome. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Post-stroke rehabilitation fact sheet. Corballis MC. Left brain, right brain: facts and fantasies. PLoS Biol. 2014;12(1):e1001767. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001767 Carter R. The Human Brain Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders. London: Penguin Books. University of California San Francisco. Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Vascular dementia. Matos Casano HA, Tadi P, Ciofoaia GA. Anterior cerebral artery stroke. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Additional Reading Motor system plasticity after unilateral injury in the developing brain, Williams PTJA, Jiang YQ, Martin JH, Dev Med Child Neurol. 2017 Dec;59(12):1224-1229. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13581. Epub 2017 Oct 3.