New insights into protecting the brain from the heart

One in about 400 people suffer a stroke each year and nearly one in six dies, making it one of the top five leading cause of death overall and the leading cause of serious disability [1]. Indeed, most older people fear disabling stroke more than death itself. At 6 months following a stroke, 50% of patients have remaining hemiparesis, 30% linger unable to walk without assistance, 46% have cognitive deficits, 35% have depressive symptoms, 19% have aphasia, 26% are dependent on others for activities of daily living and 26% are institutionalized in a nursing home [2]. The heart plays a pivotal role...