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Latest News on Stroke and Aphasia
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Stroke victim numbers will grow: report
18 March 2013
AUSTRALIA'S stroke victim numbers are set to grow to catastrophic levels, the Stroke Foundation says.
Launching a new report costing the national impact of strokes, Stroke Foundation chief executive Erin Lalor said successive governments had neglected the area.
Previous estimates had put the number of Australian stroke victims at 350,000, but the report found there were more than 420,000 stroke survivors in 2012.
It said this was set to grow to 700,000 by 2032.
The economic impact of stroke in Australia
Stroke Foundation media release Economics of Stroke 18 March 2013
Olive oil, nuts help prevent stroke
26 February 2013
POUR on the olive oil, preferably over fish and vegetables: One of the longest and most scientific tests of a Mediterranean diet suggests this style of eating can cut the chance of suffering heart-related problems, especially strokes, in older people at high risk of them.
Drug set to reduce risk of stroke
February 20 2013
Researchers at Flinders are hoping a new drug will halve the risk of two of the nation's biggest killers - strokes and heart attacks.
The fish oil based treatment has already been hailed a success overseas in reducing stroke and heart attacks.
The new treatment lowers patients’ triglyceride levels, a fat-like cholesterol that's found in your blood stream
View the Channel 7 news article.
Computer game helps stroke survivors
17 February 2013
Kiwi scientists have developed a computer game which will launch mid year, making a massive difference to the lives of stroke survivors.
One participant is for the first time regaining movement in his fingers and arm.
Almost a year ago, Tom Glenn survived a massive stroke but lost his ability to move his fingers and arms. But after four weeks playing the computer game he is making startling progress.
"Now I've got free flow of my arm really, I can move it out here," Glenn said, demonstrating stretching his arm. "I've lifted that hand a lot higher than what I've been able to do because previous to that it's been virtually clenched and closed," he said.
"But now it's just outstanding. I put that down entirely to this process." Scientists at the Callaghan Institute are launching games that help treat arm and finger paralysis after a stroke.
View and read the news article in full
Tomato pill the new wonder drug, researchers say
But if their goodness was popped in an easy-to-swallow pill that you were told might prevent strokes and heart attacks you would probably be putting in an order tomorrow.
Researchers believe they may have come up with just that after trials on the supplement Ateronon.
The daily pill contains a chemical called lycopene which makes tomatoes red and is known to break down fatty deposits in the arteries.
A Cambridge University study found taking the capsule boosted blood flow and improved the lining of vessels in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It also increased the flexibility of their arteries by 50 per cent.
The scientists believe it could limit the damage caused by heart disease – responsible for 180,000 deaths a year – and help cut the 49,000 deaths a year from strokes.
Stroke choir hopes debut makes waves
12 December 2012
A CHOIR of stroke survivors will today give their debut performance at the Royal Newcastle Centre lecture theatre.
The BrainWaves choir, made up of 24 members, including carers and partners of stroke survivors, is conducted by PhD candidate Bernadette Matthias as part of her research into the impact of music and singing on the health of stroke survivors.
Recommending change in post-stroke speech therapy
28 November 2012
Investment in intense therapy for post-stroke patients with aphasia improves quality of life for survivors as well as significant savings to the hospital system.
This is according to new research from Griffith University’s School of Rehabilitation Sciences due to be presented at this week’s Gold Coast Health and Medical Research Conference 2012.
Read the media release in full
Stroke survivors who smoke risk their life
26 October 2012
Stroke survivors who smoke put themselves at greater risk of death, additional strokes or heart attack than those who never smoked, according to new research.
Read the media release from Monash University in full
Tomatoes can lower stroke risk: study
9 October 2012
Eating tomatoes can dramatically reduce the risk of having a stroke, according to a new study out on Monday that provided more support for diets rich in fruits and vegetables.
The research -- based on data from more than 1,000 middle-aged men, followed for an average of 12 years -- indicates that people with the highest levels of lycopene in their blood have a 55 percent lower chance of suffering a stroke.
Shock tactics to teach about Stroke
9 September 2012
A graphic TV commercial showing a serial killer attacking a brain with a hammer is part of a new campaign to raise awareness of a silent killer (Stroke)
View the Channel 7 news article
View new website 'Fight Stroke' as part of a new campaign from the National Stroke Foundation
Stroke patients' walking improved with insoles
5 September 2012
A shoe insert less than half of an inch high helped Phillip Conybear regain his balance after he suffered two strokes.
"Ever since the first stroke (in 1993), I have had really bad balance," said Conybear, 61, of Woodridge, who suffered a second stroke in 2009. The insole helped him because it makes "your mind aware of what you're doing all the time. Little things like that always help," he said.
Smart devices give stroke victims a better chance
28 August 2012
Smart new technology approved for use in the United States and Europe represents a breakthrough in the treatment of the common stroke.
Two “next generation” devices, the Solitaire and the Trevo, have proved effective in retrieving clots from the brain.
There are two main types of stroke. The first, which involves a bleed in the brain, cannot be treated by these devices. But the other, the most common, is caused by a clot in the brain. This is where the technology comes into its own.
During the mechanical retrieval process these new devices retain the structure and integrity of both the vessel and the clot, which means less internal damage and fewer disabilities.
Although mechanical devices are already used in the treatment of strokes, Solitaire and Trevo represent a step forward, according to research published in The Lancet. At present they are aimed at people who are not eligible for clot-busting drugs, or who have not responded to them.
Speech pathologists urge Australians to ‘tell their story'
19 August 2012
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) estimates that more than 1.1 million Australians have difficulty communicating or being understood, a statistic speech pathologists hope to change through a national story-telling campaign.
Launched at the beginning of Speech Pathology Week, the ‘Great Australian Communication Story’ project encourages people around the country to ‘tell their story’ and connect with their community.
The project asks members of the public to fill in speech bubble templates which will be compiled into an e-book, to be released in September this year.
Read the media release from Speech Pathology Australia in full
Tests take guesswork out of stroke recovery
1 August 2012
A new set of tests can help predict whether an individual patient will recover the use of their hand and arm after a stroke, report New Zealand researchers.
New therapy for stroke victims
25 July 2012
Research and development by Flinders University’s Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) has resulted in a new touch screen therapy and assessment product for Adelaide-based vision rehabilitation company Neuro Vision Technology (NVT) Systems.
The innovative vision therapy tool will be used to evaluate and train people with a vision deficit caused by a brain injury or dysfunction.
Each year about 220,000 Australians suffer from an acquired brain injury caused by strokes, car accidents and trauma. Of those, about 30 to 35% acquire neurological vision impairments as a result of damage to the brain, not the eyes, causing many patients to only see half an image.
Micro-motor developed to treat strokes
24 July 2012
An Australian research team has created a motor that is so small it can be driven through the arteries of the brain.
The motor is about the size of a grain of salt and is said to have the equivalent power of a small kitchen appliance.
It is invisible to the naked eye.
The current technology is a fixed tube that feeds a catheter to the site of a stroke, but when it is powered by the new motor doctors will be able to steer the catheter.
Associate Professor Bernard Yan of the Royal Melbourne Hospital's neuro-intervention service is hoping to use the micro-motor to treat strokes and aneurisms.
Wii helps stroke patients
20 July 2012
Stroke patients once considered too disabled to regain function in their affected limbs are now showing signs of recovery because of a new therapy that utilises the Nintendo Wii.
Dr Penelope McNulty, a neurophysiologist at Neuroscience Research Australia, will present new data that shows the Wii is an effective rehabilitation tool at an international conference of the Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology in Brisbane on 20 July.
Dr McNulty’s data shows that an intensive, two-week training program based on the Wii can result in significant improvements in the way stroke patients are able to use their limbs, even for people that had a stroke many years ago.
All-in-one pill could save lives
19 July 2012
An all-in-one "polypill" with the potential to save lives could be available in the UK in less than two years.
Results from a ground-breaking trial showed that the four-medicine pill dramatically reduced major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
In a group of healthy individuals aged 50 and over, it cut levels of blood pressure and cholesterol to those typical of a 20-year-old.
If everyone in the UK from a similar age group took the pill, the findings suggested 100,000 to 200,000 deaths would be prevented.
The number of averted non-fatal cases, including many involving life-changing disablement, could be double this figure.
Experts called for the polypill to be made generally available to the UK population "without delay".
Realistically it could take another one to two years for all the regulatory hurdles to be overcome, according to study leader Dr David Wald, from Queen Mary, University of London.
The polypill is a layered tablet containing three blood pressure-lowering drugs and a cholesterol-lowering statin.
New treatment welcome news for Parkinson’s and stroke patients
11 July 2012 New research developed by The University of Queensland is set to change the future treatment of speech problems associated with stroke and Parkinson's disease. View Current Affair Story 'New Speech Therapy'
3 July 2012 Grace Jonasson's iPad was a game-changer for her stroke treatment. The 50-year-old, who had a stroke three years ago, keeps a daily journal on her iPad and uses apps to improve her speech and memory. "I've almost gotten my old self back," she said. "It's sped up my recovery." At first blush it may seem an unusual treatment method, but a new program is putting iPads in the hands of stroke patients in northern Manitoba who may not have access to regular treatment. Read related news article 'Aussie speech pathologist develops iPad app in London' Predictable - An exciting text-to-speech application for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.
The new treatment is promising news for people with speech and language disorders that result from diseases within the nervous system.
Professor Bruce Murdoch of the Centre for Neurogenic Communication Disorders Research within UQ's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said preliminary trials of the new treatment were positive in the effective treatment of these speech and language disorders.
The research has found a new technology, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), can be used to stimulate the brain with a series of magnetic pulses delivered by a stimulating coil held over selected areas of the head.
Read the media release from The University of Queensland in fullIPads aid treatment for stroke survivors
Stroke survivor's website seeks to help other stroke survivors
24 June 2012
Valerie Greene suffered a massive stroke in 1996. The 48-year-old Winter Park resident has since become a successful motivational speaker, published two books, won a dance contest and ran a Disney marathon. In March, she officially launched BCenter.com, an online resource that connects stroke survivors to specialists.
Stress increases risk of stroke, study finds
18 June 2012
Stress is as deadly to the brain as it is to the heart, a large new study suggests.
Researchers who followed nearly 69,000 British men and women over eight years found that psychological distress was associated with a 66 per cent increased risk of death from stroke.
Lack of sleep raises stroke risk
11 June 2012
People who regularly sleep for fewer than six hours a night have an increased risk of a stroke in middle age, researchers say.
Scientists in the US studied 5666 people aged 45 and older who had no history of stroke and were of normal weight.
Over a three-year period they found that those who habitually slept for less than six hours were significantly more likely to suffer a stroke than those who got enough rest.
Lead researcher Dr Megan Ruiter, from the University of Alabama, said people who did not get enough sleep were at risk, even if they were relatively free of other risk factors, such as obesity and sleep-disordered breathing.
'We speculate that short sleep duration is a precursor to other traditional stroke risk factors. Once these traditional stroke risk factors are present, then perhaps they become stronger risk factors than sleep duration alone.'
She presented the findings at the Sleep 2012 meeting taking place in Boston.
Further research supporting the results would suggest a need for more awareness of poor sleep as a stroke risk factor, said Dr Ruiter.
View related news article Sleep Deprivation Linked to Strokes
Future Eye Exams Can Possibly Prevent Strokes
8 June 2012
Head to toe. Top to bottom. Full body heath begins with the eyes. A recent study backs this theory and shows that an eye test could help doctors diagnose a stroke before it happens, which would help save lives. Researchers at the University of Zurich reported that a simple eye test could possibly in the future alert patients who are at risk for having a stroke.
The ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) is an exam that can help detect carotid artery stenosis (CAS), which clogs or blocks arteries from supporting the front part of the brain; this can lead to a stroke. An ophthalmologist could do the OPA test during routine visits. The findings, published in the June issue of Ophthalmology, show that those who had the lowest OPA scores ended up also having the most clogged arteries
The Risk Factor That Keeps On Giving
7 June 2012
HEART attacks and strokes caused by air pollution aren't one-off events, with an Israeli study suggesting air pollutants can lead to repeated cardiac episodes.
The Tel Aviv University research found that previous cardiac patients living in the most polluted areas were 43 per cent more likely to suffer a second heart attack, and 46 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke, than counterparts in unpolluted areas.
How are children affected when one of their parents has aphasia?
The Australian Aphasia Association (http://www.aphasia.org.au/) has developed this DVD about children living with a parent who has aphasia.
View the You Tube video for Kids affected by Aphasia
View the You Tube video for A Guide for Spouses and Older Children
Researchers look into value of adapted yoga for stroke rehabilitation
31 May 2012
Researchers looking into the value of adapted yoga for stroke rehabilitation report that after an eight-week program, study participants demonstrated improved balance and flexibility, a stronger and faster gait, and increased strength and endurance.
New hope for stroke victims - The latest drug therapy that could prevent a lifetime of disability.
30 May 2012
Melbourne medical researchers are leading a worldwide trial on stroke therapy that could mean the difference between a patient walking out of hospital within a few days or being left permanently disabled.
Each year 60,000 Australians suffer a stroke, but only half of them get to hospital in time to be considered for a clot-busting drug that stops the brain being starved of oxygen. That means it keeps brain tissue alive, something that makes a massive difference to how well a stroke patient recovers.
World's biggest stroke clot-buster trial reveals patient benefits
24 May 2012
Patients given a clot-busting drug within six hours of a stroke are more likely to make a better recovery than those who do not receive the treatment, new research has found.
The trial was set up in 2000 by the University of Sydney's Professor Richard Lindley, while he was employed at the University of Edinburgh.
The study of more than 3000 patients is the world's largest trial of the drug rt-PA and was coordinated at the University of Edinburgh. Since coming to Sydney Medical School in 2003, Professor Lindley has continued as the co-principal investigator of the research.
The findings of the study are published today in The Lancet, alongside an analysis of all other trials of the drug carried out in the past 20 years.
Read the media release in full
View a news related article (Clot buster safe but unused)
New Guidelines to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
22 May 2012
Doctors will be encouraged to change their treatment procedures for people at risk of heart attack and stroke under new guidelines launched today by the National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance (NVDPA).
The new Guidelines for the Management of Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk makes recommendations that the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease – including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and age – are considered together instead of individually when treatment options for patients at risk are decided.
Answers to curious stroke cases afoot
21 May 2012
Stroke sufferers with a condition that causes them to apply make-up to or shave only one side of their face tend to have worse recovery rates than other stroke victims. And Queensland scientists claim to now know why.
Through a series of tests with about 50 healthy volunteers, QBI researchers investigated the impact of attention on the brain's ability to repair itself.
The results suggest that the best way for stroke victims to recover is to minimise any distractions during rehabilitation therapy and have the patient completely focused on the therapeutic task.
This undivided attention was more likely to increase the brain's ability to rewire or relearn, a process known as plasticity that is essential for stroke recovery, Dr Kamke said.
"We're showing the first, convincing evidence that attention is necessary for plasticity to actually occur," Dr Kamke told AAP.
"When you are totally engrossed in something else, plasticity is not going to occur
How to detect and prevent stroke in women
23 May 2012
Unique symptoms
Many stroke symptoms are common for both women and men. Nonetheless, women may experience these warning signs suddenly: chest pain, face and limb pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, general weakness, hiccups and nausea, reported the National Stroke Association.
Unique risks
Likewise, certain risk-factors are exclusive to women: birth control medication, pregnancy and Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopause relief. Other risk-factors include high triglyceride levels (blood fat) and excess abdominal fat.
After menopause, a women's risk of stroke escalates considerably, due to the disappearance of the natural cardiovascular protection from their hormones.
"During this time, blood pressure and cholesterol levels rise at a faster rate, increasing stroke risk," explained Jan Flewelling, a registered nurse and stroke outreach coordinator for the Methodist Neurological Institute.
Michael Smith, a medical doctor with Life Extension, noted that women with extra belly fat and high triglyceride levels are up to five times as likely to suffer stroke.
Computer game helps rehabilitate stroke victims
17 May 2012
Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a computer game designed to help stroke victims recuperate.
The Circus Challenge game, created with a computer game studio, aims to help patients recover motor functions.
Players use wireless controllers to perform virtual circus acts such as lion taming and plate spinning.
It is hoped the PC-based game will serve as a cheaper and more effective alternative to existing treatments, with patients able to play at home.
Read and View the news article
Stroke Takes Center Stage in Kids' Hip Hop Video Competition
7 May 2012
The American Stroke Association today kicked off a national hip hop stroke video competition for 10- to 15-year-olds to broaden public awareness about stroke.
The free competition at www.strokeassociation.org/hiphopcontest will engage and educate youth on stroke while igniting their creative use of visual arts.
Stroke prevention revolution
26 April 2012
A new treatment is set to revolutionise stroke prevention for half a million Australians who suffer from an irregular heart beat.
View the Channel 7 news article
New hope for stroke victims
24 April 2012
Melbourne patients will be the first in the world to trial new technology that's combating strokes
View the Channel 7 news article
Stroke risk rises if sibling has stroke
18 April 2012
Those with a brother or sister who has had a stroke have a 60 percent increased risk of having a stroke as well, researchers in Sweden found.
Senior author Dr. Erik Ingelsson, a professor of cardiovascular epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, said the findings were the first large study to examine the combined influence of age, gender and sibling history on stroke risk.
Stroke conference to hear latest in genetics
12 April 2012
The world's leading stroke researchers are gathering in Newcastle to hear the latest discoveries in genetic profiling and how it can help predict how stroke patients will respond to treatment.
The International Stroke Genetics Consortium Conference will be hosted by the University of Newcastle over the next two days.
Professor Chris Levi, Conference co-chairman and Director of the John Hunter Hospital's Acute Stroke Unit, says genetic profiling is also helping to uncover the underlying causes of stroke.
"High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, all these are well recognised and play a major role, but they only account for 60, 70 per cent or so of the risk," he said.
Non-invasive brain stimulation cuts time to improve speech in stroke patients
2 April 2012
New research is seeking to cut that time significantly, with the help of non-invasive brain stimulation.
"Non-invasive brain stimulation can allow painless, inexpensive, and apparently safe method for cognitive improvement with with potential long term efficacy," says Roi Cohen Kadosh of the University of Oxford. Recent results, presented this week at a meeting of cognitive neuroscientists in Chicago, offer exciting possibilities for improving variety of abilities - from speech to memory to numerical proficiency.
Speech long after stroke
26 March 2012
Research has demonstrated that, with therapy, many of these patients can talk and understand language again. But the process can be slow and expensive.
Lisa Edmonds, an aphasia researcher at the University of Florida, says some patients continue to make gains for years. "The improvement may not be as steep as it is in the first year, but there is the capacity to continue improving. Some for three, five years after," she said.
Mollie Middlebrook scoured the country looking for additional speech therapy for her husband Charlie, 66, after he suffered a stroke just over a year ago.
"After three or four months of therapy at home, they said he had plateaued," she said. But she read research reports suggesting more therapy could help. "I wanted intensive therapy before his first year was up, so he could get the most out of it."
Stroke patients make 'Lazarus-like' recovery
22 March 2012
Newcastle researchers say they have had a significant breakthrough in treating stroke patients using a commonly used drug, with some people showing "Lazarus-like" recoveries.
The findings published in the New England Medical Journal show, in some cases, stroke victims using a drug called Tenecteplase making almost miraculous recoveries within days.
Australian stroke survey and carer survey
Have you had a stroke? Are you a carer of someone who has had a stroke?
The National Stroke Foundation is conducting a national survey of stroke survivors and carers of stroke survivors. We need your help to find out what stroke support or services are currently needed in Australia. This information will help to inform strategy and advocacy work of the National Stroke Foundation.
Further information about the survey
Stroke awareness 'improving' in Vic
21 March 2012
The foundation's face, arms, speech, time (FAST) campaign teaches people to notice if a person's mouth and face have drooped, check if they can lift both arms, notice slurred speech, and call triple-zero immediately when any such symptoms are evident.
Three in four adults can name two symptoms of stroke, compared with 50 per cent in 2007 when the campaign began, foundation CEO Erin Lalor said on Wednesday as a 2011 survey of Victorians was released.
Only a handful of the 120 participants surveyed in 2011 failed to name any symptoms of a stroke - the interruption of blood flow to the brain due to a blockage, clot, haemorrhage or burst blood vessel - compared with one in 10 in the 2007 survey, she said.
Many people, however, still do not call an ambulance fast enough when a stroke occurs, with a foundation audit showing 64 per cent of Victorian stroke patients arrived at hospital outside the critical three-hour window of opportunity to receive the most effective drug treatment in 2011.
Dr Lalor said the only appropriate response to suspected stroke was to call triple-zero immediately.
A drug that protects brain after stroke
1 March 2012
Scientists have come up with an experimental drug that holds promise for protecting the brain against the detrimental effects of a stroke.
The drug developed by the scientists at the Toronto Western Research Institute (TWRI), Krembil Neuroscience Center, is the first to achieve a neuroprotective effect in the complex brain of primates, in settings that simulate those of human strokes. ischemic stroke.
The new study shows how the drug, called a "PSD95 inhibitor" prevents brain cell death and preserves brain function when administered after a stroke has occurred.
"We are closer to having a treatment for stroke than we have ever been before," said Dr. Michael Tymianski, TWRI Senior Scientist and the study's lead author.
Read the news article in full
Art Exhibition: Calling entries from Stroke and ABI Survivors and Carers
Stroke Association of Victoria and LOTUS Group invite Stroke and ABI/Neurological Survivors and Carers to submit artwork or photographs.
The theme of the exhibition is 'Regrowth... Nurturing the Soul'. This is a rare opportunity to have an art/photographic work displayed at the State Library of Victoria.
Close of entries is Friday 30th March 2012.
Blood clot grabber could save stroke victims' lives
20 February 2012
A device that ‘traps’ blood clots so they can be safely removed from the brain could be a radical new treatment for stroke.
The cage-like gadget ensnares the clot, allowing doctors to retrieve it so blood flow can quickly be restored.
The experimental new gadget, called the Solitaire Flow Restoration Device, could potentially be used long after the three-hour cut-off point because it can force its way through the clot.
Stroke victims get helping hand from table innovation
19 February 2012
Tasmanian medical specialists have designed a table aimed at helping stroke survivors regain the use of paralysed arms.
Staff from the Launceston General Hospital and volunteers from Technical Aids for Disabled Tasmania developed the mobile table so patients could start arm therapy at the first opportunity.
The hospital's physiotherapy supervisor John Cannell said it had taken five years to perfect the design.
"There are designs similar to it but the ones that are commercially available are a lot larger and they don't adapt to some of the situations we're trying to get to," Mr Cannell said.
Mr Cannell said if rehabilitation was delayed there was a risk the stroke victim would never regain full use of their arm.
The design will now be shared with hospitals around the country.
Post-stroke care less likely for Aborigines - study
9 February 2012
INDIGENOUS people who suffer a stroke are less likely to receive life-saving care than non-indigenous people treated in the same hospitals, a national audit has found.
The study found Aborigines aged between 18 and 64, the majority of cases, were three times as likely to die or be dependent when they were discharged from hospital.
Read the Sydney Morning Herald Article in full
Atrial Fibrillation Warning
7 January 2012
Atrial Fibrillation is a common heart condition that few Australians know about often leads to stroke and heart failure. To learn more about this condition and how you can run a self test view the news story below.
View the Channel Ten news story
“Bionic Arm” May Help Stroke Patients, Retrain Brain
4 January 2012
80% of stroke patients lose use of arm, hi-tech brace could give new hope
At the age of 33, a rare stroke nearly ended the life of Sabrina Pridham.
Pridham is involved in a study at The Ohio State University Medical Center testing a robotic arm brace to determine if it can help repair nerve damage by “waking up” unused neurological pathways or possibly using alternate pathways to take control of her arm movement.
The device, when strapped to her affected left arm, senses Pridham’s own remaining muscle signals and provides motorized assistance to force completion of the arm movement. For Pridham, the device makes possible everyday tasks such flipping on a light switch or reaching for a cup from the kitchen cabinet.
View the news article from The Ohio University Medical Center
Hypothermia could be key stroke treatment
4 January 2012
A Newcastle University research team is investigating the use of hypothermia to reduce brain injury to stroke patients.
Neurologist Doctor Neil Spratt and his team have received more $422,000 in funding to determine the optimum amount of body cooling needed to reduce brain pressure.
Dr Spratt says so far laboratory testing has found cooling the body to 32 to 33 degrees for a short period of time can have long last results.
But he says more testing is needed to ensure the process does not result in other side effects.
"So far we've just got really preliminary results," he said.
View news article Therapeutic hypothermia for stroke patients (21 December 2011)
View US article Putting Strokes on Ice (6 December 2011)
Clinical trial targets stroke victims
19 December 2011
For many, strokes can cause great disability, making even simple tasks next to impossible. Now a unique trial is helping these patients get back what they've lost.
Though he's only 23, stroke patient Spencer Telligman has made his mark as an artist.
"You're putting paint on canvas and it feels great, it's just awesome," said Spencer.
In January, a stroke took away the use of his right hand, the only one he uses to paint.
"I've been worrying since it happened that I wouldn't be able to do anything anymore," said Spencer.
A unique clinical trial is restoring his confidence, and much more.
Patients do repetitive exercises and play games wearing a motorized robotic arm to help retrain their brains and make their own arms function.
"Let's say that the patient can do 10 percent, then the robot will do 90 percent, and as you get better, if you can move 50 percent, the robot will move 50 percent," said Dr. Andrew Butler Professor, Emory University Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine.
There's one more key element to this trial: a drug that helps the brain re-learn.
"The drug targets that system, the learning and memory system," said Dr. Butler.
Strokes diagnosed via iPhone FaceTime
19 December 2011
“This is the first study to demonstrate reliable stroke assessment using the iPhone 4,” saysEric R. Anderson, a neurology resident at Emory University.
“During a stroke there is a critical window of time to save the brain and every minute counts,” explains Anderson. “Effective treatment involves a timely and coordinated approach led by a neurologist specifically trained in all facets of acute stroke care.”
Anderson and his colleagues came up with the idea to use Apple’s innovative FaceTime software as a quick and economical solution to diagnose stroke from a distance.
“A person who is experiencing stroke symptoms and seeks care at a medical facility that does not offer acute stroke care should be able to be connected via the iPhone 4 with stroke specialists at another location who can see them with FaceTime video and assess their condition,” says Anderson.
Pulse checks could prevent thousands of strokes
7 December 2011
The Daily Mail reports that, if doctors checked the pulse of every patient they see, this measure could “prevent 12,000 strokes a year”.
The aim of the pulse checks would be to pick up cases of atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of a stroke
What is atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder where the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) contract in a faster and shallower way than normal, causing an irregular heartbeat. While this is happening the heart is less effective at pumping blood around the body
What are the signs of atrial fibrillation?
- breathlessness
- palpitations
- fainting or dizziness
- chest discomfort
NICE recommends that people going to their doctor with any of the signs described above, or who have had a stroke or mini-stroke, should have their pulse checked manually to see if it’s irregular
New class of medication could prevent at least 15 strokes a day
6 December 2011
Stroke is Australia's second biggest killers, but experts say a new class of medication could prevent at least 15 strokes a day, if it were made more accessible.
View the Channel Ten news story
Australians still miss out on life-saving stroke treatment and care
2 December 2011
FEWER than one in 10 Australians who could benefit from life-saving drug treatment after a stroke actually receive it.
An audit of medical records relating to more than 3500 stroke sufferers last year found only 58 per cent of patients were admitted to a specialised stroke unit on the day they arrived at hospital, despite the clear evidence that prompt treatment can make the difference between severe and mild lifelong disability, as well as between life and death.
Of the 2624 patients with so-called ischaemic stroke, which is caused by a blood vessel in the brain blocking, as opposed to bursting, only 7 per cent received the clot-busting drugs proven to dramatically improve outcomes.
But the National Stroke Foundation's Clinical Audit Report 2011, launched yesterday, shows only 20 per cent of patients got the life-saving drugs, even when they arrived at hospital within time.
News article from The Australian in full
View the Channel 7 news article
Stroke Rehab gets new legs
Posted on Investors.com 28 November 2011
Life after a stroke can be difficult as many survivors struggle to relearn basic tasks, including walking. A Dutch university has created robotic legs called LOPES that allow patients to walk again. The device supports them as they walk on a treadmill while giving feedback on how to improve their stride.
Unlike similar machines, LOPES allows movement in 3 dimensions, simulating natural movement. The device is being made more compact and is expected to be made available in the Netherlands in 2012
View news article via You Tube (Reuters video)
Hungry Beast reporter wins Walkley for "Trapped in my own body" a story about stroke survivor Maree Bourke-Calliss
27 November 2011
In “Trapped in your own body”, Monique Schafter brings us the story of Maree Bourke-Calliss, who suffered a massive stroke 17 years ago at the age of 32 after being knocked in a netball game.
Bourke-Calliss became a quadriplegic with “locked-in syndrome”, meaning that while her brain is active, she cannot move or speak.
Schafter had to find a way to interview a woman for whom communication was painstakingly difficult. Schafter emailed her questions in advance to allow Bourke-Calliss to communicate her answers to her sister, Berni Hind, by blinking her thoughts using learnt sequences that correspond with numbers and letters. This process took more than a week.
‘Magnets’ help stroke patients speak - The University of Queensland
16 November 2011
Magnetic stimulation of the brain could help improve language skills of stroke survivors with aphasia, according to research by The University of Queensland.
Dr Caroline Barwood, who recently completed her PhD at UQ's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, conducted the research and found significant improvement in the language skills of stroke patients after they underwent Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
UK News - ‘Magic Bullet’ Jab To Fight Heart Disease
15 November 2011
A SIMPLE fat-busting injection could prevent millions of heart-disease deaths each year.
The quick “magic bullet” jab offers new hope to patients who fail to control their soaring cholesterol levels despite taking wonder drugs such as statins.
More than four million people in Britain take statins daily to lower cholesterol and cut their risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The electronic headband that could stop a stroke killing you
8 November 2011
An electronic headband that can diagnose a stroke within five minutes could save lives and boost the chance of making a full recovery.
The device works by rapidly detecting whether someone is having an ischaemic stroke or a haemorrhagic stroke.
Stroke risk in some COMMONLY used anti-inflammatory drugs
7 November 2011
COMMONLY used anti-inflammatory drugs such as Voltaren almost double the risk of stroke, Australian research has found.
The drugs - commonly prescribed to relieve arthritic pain for older patients - work in a similar way to Vioxx, which was withdrawn from sale in 2004 after being associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Ibuprofen (Nurofen) was the only anti-inflammatory drug they studied that was not associated with an increased risk of stroke.
News article from The Age in full
The new study, published in The Medical Journal of Australia
Audit finds inadequate care for stroke patients
5 November 2011
STROKE is Australia's second biggest killer, yet patients are missing out on best-practice care. There are 700 cases of death or disability each year.
The National Stroke Foundation says one in six Australians will suffer a stroke at some point, but their chances of receiving good care depends on where they live and which hospital they attend.
The foundation's nationwide survey of stroke services, released on October 28, found almost 26,000 admissions to hospitals for stroke last year. Yet fewer than 5 per cent of stroke sufferers receive a clot-busting, or thrombolytic, drug even though studies show it provides significant benefit.
"We know care in a stroke unit and access to clot-busting drugs can mean the difference between death [or] severe disability [and] returning home to a semblance of life before stroke," says Stroke Foundation chief Erin Lalor.
..."Access to clot-busting drugs is well below what we need to save lives and reduce disability."
Less than 60 per cent of patients suffering a stroke received care in a specialised stroke unit, even though research shows care in such units reduces chances of death and disability by 20 per cent.
Even in hospitals that have stroke units, only 29 per cent of patients were able to gain access to the unit, the audit found.
News article from The Australian in full
Link to Acute Audit Organisational Report 2011
Music of the Brain - Documentary
The documentray Music of the Brain is now available on The Age TV
Description - Music affects our development from the womb to the grave. Find out about the role music plays in developing our brains as humans, beginning with premature infants in neonatal intensive care wards, moving through the role of music in enhancing performance in childhood (including discussion of the Mozart effect), the role of music therapy in hospital patients, and finally looking at the elderly.
Australian Aphasia video wins Brain Awareness Video
27 September 2011
The Society for Neuroscience (Washington DC) has been hosting a Brain Awareness Video Contest. The contest was launched in 2011 to encourage the creation of brief, engaging videos that educate and inspire the public about the brain and nervous system.
University of Queensland’s Shiree Heath, a graduate student was the overall winner of the official contest with The Treasure Hunt, and deservedly so. In it, a child narrates how he came to understand his grandfather’s aphasia.
Stroke prevention: An apple a day
16 September 2011
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in America and now, new research shows the colour of your fruits and vegetables can help reduce a stroke.
View The News Article About This Research
New Research to Help Stroke Patients Who Can't Swallow
12 September 2011
A simple function that most of us take for granted -- swallowing -- is the focus of University of Adelaide research that could help thousands of stroke sufferers around the world. In an Australian first, researchers from the University's Robinson Institute are using magnetic stimulators to jump start the brain after a stroke and repair swallowing functions which break down in more than 50% of stroke patients.
View the Channel 7 news article
Stem Cell Trial May Redefine Stroke Treatment
Paramedics took her to a designated hospital stroke center. To preserve her brain function, doctors treated her with clot-busting drugs and asked her if she would be the first to participate in a clinical trial involving stem cells.
Dr. George Rappard of the Los Angeles Brain & Spine Institute at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is the principal investigator. The stem cells were separated out and treated, which appears to have increased the cell's ability to fill in where the body needs it. One to two million cells were then injected through a catheter that runs from the groin to the brain.
New hope for stroke victims - The latest drug therapy that could prevent a lifetime of disability.
30th May 2011
Melbourne medical researchers are leading a worldwide trial on stroke therapy that could mean the difference between a patient walking out of hospital within a few days or being left permanently disabled.
Each year 60,000 Australians suffer a stroke, but only half of them get to hospital in time to be considered for a clot-busting drug that stops the brain being starved of oxygen. That means it keeps brain tissue alive, something that makes a massive difference to how well a stroke patient recovers.
The Melbourne trial's aimed at extending the crucial period in which that drug can be administered effectively, as Lisa Whitehead reports.
View ABC news article
Melbourne patients will be the first in the world to trial new technology to combat strokes.
View the Channel 7 news article