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.

Richard Mayeux wins AAN Potamkin prize for Alzheimer's research

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is awarding the 2007 Potamkin Prize to Richard Mayeux, MD, MSc, Fellow of the AAN and co-director of the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center in New York, for his research related to Alzheimer's disease.

12 Apr 2007

Three proteins could be new targets for treating stroke, brain and spinal cord injuries

Some mature brain cells can grow new extensions when the amount of three particular proteins on their surface increases, a new study shows.

12 Apr 2007

Corticosteroids after cardiac surgery lower risk of atrial fibrillation

Patients who receive corticosteroids after cardiac surgery have a significantly lower risk of atrial fibrillation in the days following the surgery, according to a study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Apr 2007

Report reveals cost of type 2 diabetes complications

A first-of-its-kind report looking at the prevalence and cost of type 2 diabetes complications shows that an estimated three out of five people (57.9 percent) with type 2 diabetes have at least one of the other serious health problems commonly associated with the disease, and that these health problems are taking a heavy financial toll on the United States.

11 Apr 2007

Breakthrough Australian pump could give heart patients new hope

Lead researcher Associate Professor Andy Tan said the heart pump's innovative design was based on a double-output centrifugal model that pushed the blood in a counter direction to ensure correct flow through both sides of the heart, and is the subject of a patent application.

11 Apr 2007

American Heart Association highlights BAD fats and BETTER fats

As the nation moves to significantly reduce trans fat consumption, the American Heart Association is launching "Face The Fats," an educational campaign to teach consumers how to minimize trans fat in their diet, while avoiding the unintended health consequence of defaulting to more saturated fat.

11 Apr 2007

Dieting might mean you end up fatter that before!

After analyzing the effects of 31 studies on the longterm effects of a number of diets, scientists in the U.S. say not only do they not work but they can also put a person's health at risk.

10 Apr 2007

Restless legs syndrome increases risk of cardiovascular disease

People with restless legs syndrome (RLS), especially the elderly, may be at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the April 10, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Apr 2007

Diabetes linked to increased risk of mild cognitive impairment

Individuals with diabetes may have a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and learning and may be an intermediate step toward Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

10 Apr 2007

New imaging technology with use of novel contrast agent may predict heart attack in waiting

A new imaging technology may hold the key to not only stopping heart attacks in their tracks but also preventing them for ever occurring.

10 Apr 2007

Foods rich in cocoa appear to reduce blood pressure but drinking tea may not

...according to an analysis of previously published research in the April 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

10 Apr 2007

If you love it eat it! because chocolate helps keep high blood pressure down!

Chocolate, in particular the cocoa-rich dark variety is in the news again because of it's apparent health benefits.

10 Apr 2007

Smoking and drinking lots of coffee may protect against Parkinson's disease

In what must be a rare example of smoking supposedly providing some benefit, researchers in the U.S. say in families with a history of Parkinson's disease, those who smoke cigarettes and drink lots of coffee appear to reduce their risk of developing the disease.

9 Apr 2007

Heart study observes 20th year in Forsyth County

Because of the 4,035 Forsyth County residents who participated in a long-running study of heart disease risk factors, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues have made major findings such as how being overweight is associated with becoming disabled and that passive smoking increases the risk of hardening of the arteries.

9 Apr 2007

Forum endorses salt reduction to prevent heart disease and stroke

A committee convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report endorsing population-wide strategies to reduce salt consumption as a cost-effective means of lowering blood pressure; thus preventing heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.

9 Apr 2007