London Woman Develops Italian Accent After Stroke in Rare Medical Case
What began as a terrifying medical emergency for 58-year-old Althia Bryden has now turned into one of the rarest neurological conditions ever recorded.
On May 4, Althia, from Highbury, North London, was found unresponsive in bed, with her face visibly drooping on the right side. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had suffered a stroke that left her unable to speak or feel the upper-right side of her body.
Further tests revealed that she had a carotid web—a rare condition in which a shelf-like structure in the carotid artery disrupts blood flow to the brain. In August, surgeons successfully removed the blockage, expecting a routine recovery.
The Unexpected Italian Accent
However, the day after surgery, something completely unexpected happened.
A nurse woke Althia in intensive care to check her blood pressure when, out of nowhere, she suddenly started speaking again—but with a strong Italian accent.
“The nurse looked as shocked as I did. She rushed to get colleagues around my bed. No one could believe I was talking after so long,” Althia recalls.
The medical team initially thought she had always spoken with an Italian accent, but Althia—who has never visited Italy, never spoken the language, and whose family is Jamaican—was just as confused.
Foreign Accent Syndrome: A Medical Rarity
Doctors now believe Althia has developed Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), an extremely rare neurological condition where a person’s speech unexpectedly changes to a foreign-sounding accent, often following brain damage, strokes, or trauma.
Since the stroke, Althia unconsciously uses Italian words and phrases like “Mamma Mia,” “Bambino,” and “Si”, as well as exaggerated hand gestures commonly associated with Italian speakers.
Medical professionals at the hospital were baffled. In her words:
“Doctors and nurses saw me as a bit of a medical marvel—none of them had dealt with Foreign Accent Syndrome in their entire careers.”
Althia is still waiting for a formal diagnosis, but her speech therapist has already suggested FAS as the likely cause.
“I Wish More People Knew About It”
Foreign Accent Syndrome is so rare that many doctors never encounter a single case in their lifetime.
“Before, I didn’t sound like the Queen, but I sounded British. Now, I have an Italian accent despite never learning the language,” Althia says.
Although the experience has been shocking, she hopes her story will raise awareness of the condition, helping others who may be struggling with similar unexplained speech changes.