University Hospitals Awarded $7 Million by PCORI to Study Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients Presenting Beyond 24 Hours

University Hospitals was awarded $7 million in research funding by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients Presenting beyond 24 Hours of Last-Known-Well. Amrou Sarraj, MD, FAHA, FSVIN, director of Stroke Center and Stroke Systems at the UH Neurological Institute, will lead the study, which aims to provide deterministic evidence of clinical benefit due to addition of endovascular thrombectomy to standard medical care in this population.

Which Risk Factors Are Linked to Having a Severe Stroke?

People with conditions or habits such as high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or smoking, not only have a higher risk of stroke, they may also have more severe strokes than people without these risk factors, according to a study published in the November 13, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Feeling Constipated? You May Have a Higher Risk for Heart Disease

People with constipation may have a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke, and the risk increases in people who also have high blood pressure. The findings of a new study are published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. The study has been chosen as an APSselect article for October.

Epidemiology researcher leads $1.7M study on Shingrix’s impact on dementia, stroke in nursing homes

Epidemiology professor Daniel Harris is leading research on the link between shingles and dementia in nursing home residents. The $1.7 million study examines the impact of the Shingrix vaccine on dementia risk and other neurological issues among 3.5 million residents.

Which Clot-Busting Drug Is Tied to Better Recovery After Stroke?

For people with ischemic stroke, treatment with the clot-busting drug tenecteplase is associated with a slightly higher likelihood of an excellent recovery and reduced disability three months later than the drug alteplase, according to a meta-analysis published in the October 16, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers found that the likelihood of good recovery was similar between the two treatments.

History of COVID-19 Doubles Long-term Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke and Death

Cleveland: A history of COVID-19 can double the risk of heart attack, stroke or death according to new research led by Cleveland Clinic and the University of Southern California.
The study found that people with any type of COVID-19 infection were twice as likely to have a major cardiac event, such as heart attack, stroke or even death, for up to three years after diagnosis.

Neurointerventionalists Can Rarely Recover Payment for Out of Network Mechanical Thrombectomy Under the No Suprises Act

A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that neurointerventionalists, who often deliver lifesaving and disability-sparing treatments for emergency stroke cases, have essentially no financially viable access to payment recovery through the No Surprises Act (NSA) for professional mechanical thrombectomy (MT) out-of-network (OON) claims. MT is an effective treatment for emergent large vessel occlusions, such as ischemic stroke. This Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery study was based on 1,000 simulated years of OON MT claims.

Moderate coffee and caffeine consumption is associated with lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, new study finds

Consuming moderate amounts of coffee and caffeine regularly may offer a protective effect against developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Black stroke patients arrive later to hospitals, EMS less likely to notify

During a stroke, Black Americans arrive later to emergency departments — which are less likely to be notified of a patient’s condition ahead of time, a national study shows. Researchers say quality improvements for EMS should be a target for stroke system redesigns to achieve greater health equity.

ADLM publishes new guidance on lipid testing to improve care for patients with cardiovascular disease

The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM, formerly AACC) has issued expert guidance on lipid tests, which measure blood levels of fats and cholesterol to help assess a patient’s risk of heart disease and stroke. By giving clinicians and laboratory medicine professionals much-needed clarity on how to best use these tests, the new guidelines will ensure that more patients with cardiovascular disease get the treatment they need.

Do People with High Blood Pressure Have a Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

People 60 and older with untreated high blood pressure may have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to both people who have been or are being treated for high blood pressure as well as people without the chronic condition. The new research, a meta-analysis, is published in the August 14, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. These results do not prove that untreated high blood pressure causes Alzheimer’s disease, they only show an association.

Uncontrolled Hypertension: The Old ‘Silent Killer’ is Alive and Well

High blood pressure affects about 45% of U.S. adults. In the 1970s, only about 50% of patients were aware of their hypertension. Today, 54% are aware of their high blood pressure, 40% are actively treated and 21% are actively controlled. As such, researchers alert health care providers that the old “silent killer” is alive and well.

American Heart Association Recognizes Loyola University Medical Center for Advanced Care for Stroke and Type 2 Diabetes

Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) has earned the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Blood pressure high for years? Beware of stroke risk

Years of high systolic blood pressure are linked to a greater risk for the two most common types of stroke. The results suggest that early diagnosis and sustained control of high blood pressure over the lifespan are critical to preventing stroke, especially in Black and Hispanic patients who are more likely to have uncontrolled hypertension.

Eating More Ultra-processed Foods Tied to Cognitive Decline, Stroke

People who eat more ultra-processed foods like soft drinks, chips and cookies may have a higher risk of having memory and thinking problems and having a stroke than those who eat fewer processed foods, according to a new study published in the May 22, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that eating ultra-processed foods causes memory and thinking problems and stroke. It only shows an association.

Could AI Play a Role in Locating Damage to the Brain After Stroke?

Artificial intelligence (AI) may serve as a future tool for neurologists to help locate where in the brain a stroke occurred. In a new study, AI processed text from health histories and neurologic examinations to locate lesions in the brain. The study, which looked specifically at the large language model called generative pre-trained transformer 4 (GPT-4), is published in the March 27, 2024, online issue of Neurology® Clinical Practice, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Doctor discusses a recent study about dementia.

Tresa Mcneal, MD, at Baylor Scott & White Health, discusses a recent study about dementia. What You Need to Know: Dementia affects thinking, memory and social ability. Stroke can cause dementia. Dementia risks increase for those who are sedentary. Reduce…