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.

GLP-1 therapies linked to fewer complications in adults with both obesity and autoimmune disease

Among adults with both obesity and an autoimmune disease, those taking a glucagon-like peptide-receptor 1 agonist (GLP-1RA) medication had lower rates of emergency department visits and were less likely to experience serious cardiac events, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism or death when compared to similar adults who were not taking these medications, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

7 Jun 2026

Study validates research models for tracking circular extra-chromosomal DNA

Damage to DNA in cancer cells can lead to pieces breaking off chromosomes and floating away, like icebergs cracking off from a glacier.

5 Jun 2026

Novel artificial intelligence technology improves eye disease diagnosis

Non-invasive eye scans allow doctors a zoomed-in, three-dimensional look beneath the eye's surface without causing discomfort or pain to the patient.

5 Jun 2026

American Heart Association introduces new certification for stroke coordinators

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, underscoring the need for effective, coordinated evidence–based care across hospitals and health systems.

5 Jun 2026

Strength training and cardio combo work best together

Research shows that combining resistance training with aerobic exercise significantly reduces mortality risk, emphasizing the importance of physical activity.

5 Jun 2026

NWSL and American Heart Association expand CPR awareness efforts

To raise awareness of CPR, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) today unveiled the 2026 Nation of Lifesavers NWSL Ambassador Class during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, held annually from June 1-7.

4 Jun 2026

Eight startups selected to advance heart and brain health technologies

Eight companies have been selected to participate in the American Heart Association Heart and Brain Health Accelerator, a specialty track within the 2026 MedTech Innovator (MTI) Accelerator.

4 Jun 2026

Electrical neck implants immediately restore arm mobility in stroke survivors

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report the final outcomes of a pioneering pilot clinical trial using electrical stimulation of the spinal cord to improve arm and hand mobility in people with chronic stroke today in Nature Medicine.

4 Jun 2026

Pulse-wave tracking at home catches spontaneous normal heart rhythms early

Smartphone-based heart rhythm monitoring from home can reduce same-day cancellations and help save significant healthcare resources ahead of planned electrical cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation. This is shown in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital.

4 Jun 2026

Study links rural living to worse epilepsy health outcomes

For people with epilepsy, living in counties that are more rural was associated with poorer health outcomes than for people living in more urban counties, according to a study published June 3, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Jun 2026

Higher genetic pulse pressure risk associated with dementia-related mortality

When looking at genetic variants in a person's DNA that predispose them to disease, a new study has found having a higher number of genetic variants for increased pulse pressure is associated with a small, increased risk of dementia as a contributing cause of death.

3 Jun 2026

New study reevaluates stroke risk for female patients with atrial fibrillation

A new Tulane University study challenges a long-standing assumption in heart care: that being female automatically increases stroke risk for patients with atrial fibrillation, a common condition that causes the heart to beat irregularly.

3 Jun 2026

American Heart Association launches national heart transplant research network

Nearly 60 years after the first successful heart transplant, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, is launching a bold new initiative to fundamentally transform how heart transplant care is delivered across the United States - addressing long-standing gaps in innovation, equity and patient outcomes.

3 Jun 2026

Acupuncture improves muscle function recovery in stroke patients

Paralysis on one side of the body is common after stroke. A new study in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics demonstrates that acupuncture can significantly improve muscle function recovery in patients who experienced a stroke, with this recovery correlating to increases in grey matter volume in certain regions of the brain related to cognitive-motor integration.

3 Jun 2026

Brain stroke injuries trigger lipid increases that cause bilateral limb pain

A stroke is a devastating condition that disrupts proper brain function.

3 Jun 2026

Scalable solutions can help address anxiety and mood disorders in women

Women make up half the world's population yet are the focus of relatively little research, leading to deficits in their mental health care.

2 Jun 2026

How dysregulated collagen IV homeostasis causes cerebral microbleeds

Millions of older adults have tiny brain hemorrhages called cerebral microbleeds, which are strongly associated with dementia, cognitive decline, and stroke.

2 Jun 2026

Lifestyle habits predict long-term health better than cancer treatment history

Healthy lifestyle habits are crucial for childhood cancer survivors, reducing risks of chronic conditions and improving quality of life more than treatments.

2 Jun 2026

New PET radiotracer shows high accuracy for detecting clots in the legs and lungs

A novel PET radiotracer can accurately detect deep vein thrombosis in the legs and reveal whether clots have migrated to the lungs.

1 Jun 2026

Physical activity protects heart health regardless of weight loss

With obesity now affecting more than 40% of U.S. adults and fueling rising rates of heart disease, a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association calls for a comprehensive treatment approach that puts physical activity front and center.

1 Jun 2026