Viral Video: British Woman Wakes up Speaking Fluent Italian
A 58-year-old British woman, Althia Bryden, experienced a rare phenomenon known as Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) following her recovery from a stroke. Despite never having visited Italy or speaking Italian, she began speaking with a pronounced Italian accent, using phrases like “Mamma Mia” and “bambino.”
Bryden’s stroke in May 2024, caused by a blockage in her carotid artery, initially left her unable to speak or use the right side of her body.
After undergoing surgery to remove the blockage, she unexpectedly regained her speech, but with an Italian accent.
This sudden change has been distressing for her, leading to feelings of losing her identity and describing herself as feeling like “someone is impersonating me.”
Foreign Accent Syndrome is an extremely rare condition, with only around 100 documented cases worldwide.
It typically occurs following traumatic brain injuries, such as strokes, and results in patients speaking with a foreign accent without having prior exposure to that language or accent.