Being a speech-language pathologist, I work with stroke victims on an ongoing basis. And, aside from the research to support it, most stroke victims I have worked with are individuals who have a history of alcohol and/or drug use and/or are smokers. Perhaps being Malcolm in the Middle didn’t open him up to the world of partying in LA (let’s face it, he probably wasn’t the guy they lifted the velvet rope for…he probably had to wait in line like everybody else), but being a drummer of a somewhat small-town band, did.