It occurs when a blood vessel to the brain becomes clogged or bursts. When that happens the nerve cells in that part of the brain can't work properly.
Symptoms depend on the part of the brain affected and the extent of the damage.
People who survive a stroke often have weakness on one side of the body or trouble with moving, talking or thinking. However, a person of any age can have a brain attack. People who have had a stroke have an increased risk of another, especially within the first year of the original stroke. Brain attack survivors usually have some spontaneous recovery or natural healing, and often recover further with rehabilitation. Each stroke differs depending on the part of the brain injured, the severity of the injury, and the person's general health.