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.

Blood biomarker test improves detection of hidden brain injuries

Clinician-scientists hope to expand the use of blood-based biomarker tests for traumatic brain injury (TBI) to improve identification and escalation of care for patients whose diagnosis otherwise might be missed.

23 Oct 2026

Study links recreational cannabis legalization to rising heart attack admissions

Legalization of recreational cannabis in the US is associated with a rise in hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease, finds an analysis of more than 50 million patient discharge records, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.

22 Oct 2026

Community health workers help patients piece their lives back together

For Georgieanna Pierre-Paul-who wants everyone to call her Gee-the most important part of her job may be a comfortable pair of shoes.

22 Oct 2026

Artificial intelligence in stroke rehabilitation: A structured clinical review

Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability, and recovery varies substantially across motor, cognitive, communication, and activities-of-daily-living domains, making continuous assessment and individualized rehabilitation essential.

22 Oct 2026

Inspire device offers new sleep apnea treatment for teens with Down syndrome

For some adolescents with Down syndrome, neither surgery to remove the tonsils nor a CPAP machine provides a workable solution for obstructive sleep apnea.

21 Oct 2026

Newer anticoagulants linked to fewer strokes and deaths after brain bleeds

For people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat, and intracranial hemorrhage, a type of stroke also known as a brain bleed, anticoagulant use was associated with a lower risk of an ischemic stroke and death, according to a new study published October 21, 2026, in Neurology®, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

21 Oct 2026

Early heart rhythm control linked to fewer recurrent strokes

For people hospitalized with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (AFib), restoring the heart's normal rhythm within eight weeks after stroke is associated with a lower risk of having another stroke, according to a new study published October 21, 2026, in Neurology®, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

21 Oct 2026

Mayo Clinic surgeon explains the benefits of surgery for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hearing that someone you love may need heart surgery can be scary, especially when you're also trying to understand an unfamiliar heart condition.

21 Oct 2026

A nine-year study reveals a pattern linking loneliness to heart risk

The study reveals that patterns of loneliness and social isolation significantly impact heart health, suggesting new avenues for cardiovascular risk assessment.

21 Oct 2026

A 20-year study of 90,000 adults suggests the type of fish you eat matters

A Japanese study following 90,944 adults for an average of 20.8 years found that associations between seafood consumption and mortality varied by fish type and sex. Moderate seafood consumption was linked to lower overall mortality among women, while higher intake of omega-3-rich fish in women and unsalted seafood in men was associated with lower cerebrovascular disease mortality.

20 Oct 2026

Hunger may drive the propensity to develop alcohol addiction

Researchers at Brown University have discovered a molecular link between hunger and the formation of "reward" memories that play a role in alcohol addiction.

20 Oct 2026

Premature menopause linked to higher heart disease risk and insulin levels

Premature menopause is associated with an increased risk of several long-term health problems due to estrogen deficiency.

20 Oct 2026

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced postoperative infections and heart complications

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery.

19 Oct 2026

Cannabis users face increased heart attack risk around surgery

As marijuana use becomes more common and legal in most U.S. states, patients who use cannabis may face a significantly higher risk of heart attack around the time of surgery, while also showing an unexpected lower risk of dangerous blood clots in the veins, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting.

19 Oct 2026

Your age may not tell the whole story about your health, but your blood could

Researchers analyzed plasma metabolites from 18,476 individuals aged 1 to 96 years and developed two metabolomic aging measures to assess biological aging, chronic disease, and mortality risk. Accelerated metabolomic aging was associated with greater risks of chronic disease and death, while a separate mortality-linked measure provided additional information about health status and disease burden beyond conventional clinical assessments.

18 Oct 2026

Experts call for lifelong care after brain and spinal injuries

In a new paper published in The Lancet Neurology, "Reframing traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury as chronic multisystem disorders: toward integrated, long-term care," international experts across institutions and disciplines propose a fundamental shift in how traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in adults are understood and managed. Sandro Marini, MD, of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, is a co-first author, and Saef Izzy, MD, also of the Neuroscience Institute, is one of the co-senior authors, and the primary corresponding author.

14 Oct 2026

Epilepsy linked to higher risk of young-onset dementia

People with epilepsy may be more likely to develop young-onset dementia than people without epilepsy, according to a study published October 14, 2026, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

14 Oct 2026

Losing weight is one thing. Keeping your muscle is another, experts say

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position stand concludes that sustained calorie restriction drives weight loss, while adequate protein intake and resistance training help preserve lean mass. Reviewing intermittent fasting, ketogenic diets, and other dietary approaches, the authors emphasize individualized nutrition plans, body composition, and sustainable weight management rather than rapid weight loss alone.

14 Oct 2026

UC San Diego study achieves mind control by stimulating neurons

When learning how to perform new movements, our brains etch the details in our minds as we master the new task.

14 Oct 2026

Nature-based activities may offer lasting relief from loneliness

About one in three Americans and one in six people worldwide feel lonely on a regular basis, a troubling reality that has prompted some public health officials to declare an "epidemic of loneliness."

13 Oct 2026