Stroke News and Research

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A stroke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. "Mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Study advances understanding of mixed protein pathologies in dementia

The aging brain frequently harbors multiple protein pathologies that contribute to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

8 Jul 2026

Dominant hand excels through practice rather than brain advantage

Why is a person's dominant hand so much better at writing, throwing or using tools? A new study from UCLA Health researchers suggests the answer isn't a hardwired brain advantage - the dominant hand has simply had more practice.

8 Jul 2026

Study reveals how glial cells regulate brain injury and recovery

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of people worldwide every year and remains a major cause of long-term disability, cognitive decline, and neurological complications.

8 Jul 2026

NFL players have higher rates of neurodegenerative disease-caused mortality

Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation cohort study of nearly 20,000 NFL players reveals that players are dying of dementia and Parkinson's disease at much higher rates than the general population.

8 Jul 2026

New study identifies shared risk factors for breast cancer and atrial fibrillation

Alcohol use and smoking were linked to breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter in women ages 55 years and older in multiple regions of the world, according to new, independent research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

8 Jul 2026

Persistent high cortisol levels increase hypertension risk in patients with adrenal tumors

A major new study, published today in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has shown that cortisol levels in patients with adrenal tumours are far less stable than previously assumed.

7 Jul 2026

Researchers identify brain circuits responsible for triggering OCD symptoms

Most of the time, the origin of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is unknown, but in some rare cases, it starts after a brain injury, such as a stroke or a tumor.

7 Jul 2026

Smart medical wristband tracks hidden arrhythmias to prevent strokes

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases claim almost 20 million lives every year and remain the leading cause of death worldwide.

7 Jul 2026

U.S. obesity rates rose sharply between 1999 and 2023

Obesity rates among U.S. adults and children rose sharply in recent years and by 2023, 40% of adults and 20% of youth met the criteria for obesity, according to new, independent research published today in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation.

7 Jul 2026

Could IVF affect heart health after pregnancy?

Women with IVF-conceived pregnancies exhibit higher large artery stiffness, indicating potential cardiovascular risks that warrant further investigation.

7 Jul 2026

Study tracks why rural residents face higher chronic disease risks

Following the release of data from Assumption Parish earlier this year, researchers at LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center have published the first set of data from the Risks Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal, or RURAL, Heart and Lung study in Franklin Parish. The data book for Franklin Parish is now available to explore.

6 Jul 2026

McMaster researchers uncover why statins cause painful muscle side effects

Millions of people rely on statins - a medication used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

6 Jul 2026

New international certification program launched to improve stroke rehabilitation

A UTHealth Houston neurologist was among a group of two dozen healthcare professionals from across the globe who developed an international certification program designed to improve rehabilitation care among stroke survivors.

3 Jul 2026

Racial disparities in hypertension onset among women

The study highlights that Black women develop hypertension almost a decade earlier than White women, calling for targeted interventions to reduce disparities.

3 Jul 2026

Blood pressure and cholesterol gaps shrink among older adults with obesity

Over the last three decades, differences in unhealthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure between older adults with obesity and those with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) have narrowed or disappeared in several high-income countries, suggests a study published in The Lancet.

1 Jul 2026

GLP-1 medications may improve long-term health for people with peripheral artery disease

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) medications were shown to reduce the number of deaths, amputations and hospitalizations among people with Type 2 diabetes who also had narrowed leg arteries associated with PAD (peripheral artery disease), according to new, independent research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

1 Jul 2026

Blood protein clocks flag higher risks of death and chronic disease

Proteomic age clocks applied to two European cohorts linked faster biological aging with smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and several cancers. The Global proteomic clock predicted mortality as well as established lifestyle risk factors, while organ-specific clocks showed stronger links with related cancers of the kidney, lung, and stomach.

30 Jun 2026

Nerve stimulation methods provide safe relief for oropharyngeal dysphagia

Dysphagia, a severe comorbidity of many neurological diseases, often lacks targeted therapies. This critical review assessed the clinical effectiveness and safety of electrical stimulation of cranial nerves for treating dysphagia, including implantable (direct nerve stimulation), minimally invasive (pharyngeal electrical stimulation, PES), and non‑invasive (transcutaneous) approaches.

30 Jun 2026

New genetic clues may help prevent unexpected strokes in youth

UVA Health stroke researchers have identified a distinct and temporary pattern of gene behavior during cervical artery dissections, a leading cause of stroke in young people.

30 Jun 2026

Cryo-EM microscopy uncovers structure of bacteria behind gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults over 30 years old are affected or considered at risk.

30 Jun 2026