Stroke Awareness Foundation

04/17/2026

This year's Fight Stroke Walk is less than a month away. Join us for the 2026 Fight Stroke Walk on Sunday May 3rd at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. This is a fun, family-friendly event that honors stroke survivors, caregivers, and their families. Register Today!

https://thestrokeawarenessfoundation.ticketspice.com/2026-fight-stroke-walk

04/15/2026

Stroke recovery is often challenging as most of the stroke survivors remain chronically disabled, with motor deficits affecting a significant percentage of patients. In the early recovery period, during the first weeks after the insult, the brain enters a prolonged phase of repair and inflammation. This chronic response can strongly influence poststroke recovery and long-term disability.

The poststroke recovery environment plays an important role in the healing process. Recent studies suggest that environmental enrichment (EE), a recovery setting that combines greater physical activity, sensory stimulation, and social interaction, can improve recovery. However, how the stimulation affects poststroke brain inflammation and white matter pathology is not well-understood.

"EE is known for exerting beneficial effects on neuroplasticity and recovery after stroke. However, a systemic study on understanding the microglial phenotypes during the recovery period after stroke under enriched housing conditions was lacking. Our study addresses this research gap," says Dr. Camprubí-Ferrer.

The researchers induced photothrombotic (PT) stroke, a commonly used experimental model that creates a localized injury in the brain, in male mice and randomized mice into standard environment (SE) or to an EE with more space, social contact, exercise opportunities, and frequently changed objects. The mice were then monitored for sensorimotor recovery over 3 weeks. In addition, they examined the brain for signs of microglial activity and myelin damage.

The behavioral findings clearly highlighted the role of EE in PT stroke recovery. Mice housed in EE performed better on tests of paw placement, foot fault, and limb symmetry, with benefits persisting through 21 days after stroke. When the researchers combined these outcomes into an overall neurological score, the EE group showed stronger recovery.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Its recovery is often challenging as most of the stroke survivors remain chronically disabled, with motor deficits affecting a significant percentage of patients.

04/13/2026

Getting a flu shot could lower your risk of Stroke and Heart Attack. A study published April 2026 in the journal Eurosurveillance, a team of six public health researchers in Denmark and Sweden noted a rarely discussed contributor to heart attack and stroke that’s preventable, separate from the oft-mentioned lifestyle factors like diet or exercise. “Influenza infection can trigger acute cardiovascular events through short-lived systemic inflammation,” they said, citing three Canadian, French, and Spanish studies that pinpointed an increase in acute heart attack risk during the first seven days after a positive flu test confirmed within a laboratory.

The choice had glaring implications, apparently tied to a powerful effect: reduced inflammation.

04/08/2026

Register today for the 2026 Fight Stroke Walk! This 5K walk unites stroke survivors, caregivers and their families to help raise funds for stroke education and outreach.

This family-friendly event features live music, face-painting, and a tribute tower to honor stroke survivors and remember those we've lost.

Register Here: https://thestrokeawarenessfoundation.ticketspice.com/2026-fight-stroke-walk

Join us for the 2026 Fight Stroke Walk on Sunday May 3rd at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. This is a fun, family-friendly event that honors stroke survivors, caregivers, and their families. Register Today!

04/08/2026

Five factors may predict the long-term risk for another stroke in people who have experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke, according to a new study.

The systematic review and meta-analyses examined 28 observational cohort studies, totaling 86,810 patients with a history of TIA or minor stroke, to identify which risk factors affected prognosis for secondary stroke events at 1 year or longer.

Hypertension, smoking, and three subtypes of ischemic stroke — cardioembolism, large artery atherosclerosis, and small vessel disease — were the main factors contributing to long-term secondary stroke risk. Minor stroke accounted for a larger proportion of later strokes than TIA.



https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/5-factors-may-predict-long-term-stroke-risk-after-minor-2026a10009xi

New research reveals five factors that may predict another stroke after a mini stroke, including hypertension, smoking and three specific stroke subtypes.

04/06/2026

It’s known as a “mini” stroke — but a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is no small thing.

Though it typically lasts only a few minutes, this temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain can be an early sign that a full-blown, potentially disabling stroke is on the horizon.

“I would say that basically all the same signs and symptoms of a stroke are the signs and symptoms of a transient ischemic attack,” Dr. Brandon Giglio, director of vascular neurology at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn said.

Experts recommend memorizing the “BE FAST” acronym to quickly recognize the symptoms:

B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance, dizziness or lack of coordination
E – Eyes: Sudden vision changes, such as blurring, double vision or vision loss in one or both eyes
F – Face: Facial drooping, numbness or an uneven smile
A – Arms: Weakness or numbness in one or both arms or leg weakness
S – Speech: Slurred speech, difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech
T – Time: Call 911 immediately if any of these symptoms appear.
“If someone has any of those signs and they were abrupt in onset, I would advise them to go to the nearest emergency room,” Giglio stressed.

Think of it as a “heart attack of the brain.”

04/03/2026

Read the new booklets Being a Great Caregiver, Just Walk, and Courageous Medical Conversations by 3 time stroke survivor Deb Shaw and the Founder of
Champion The Challenges

These free booklets are wonderful resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers to help stroke survivors regain independence and enhance quality of life.

Healing Journey: Essential Booklets for Stroke Recovery If you are seeking rehabilitation tips, lifestyle adjustments, emotional support, or ways to prevent future strokes, Champion the Challenges is here to empower you. These booklets will provide the knowledge and resources you need to regain inde...

04/01/2026

After a stroke, the brain may do something surprisingly hopeful—it can “refresh” parts of itself. Researchers analyzing brain scans from over 500 stroke survivors found that while the damaged side of the brain appears to age faster, the opposite, unaffected side can actually look younger. This unexpected shift seems to reflect the brain’s effort to rewire itself, strengthening healthy regions to compensate for lost function.

After a stroke, the brain may do something surprisingly hopeful—it can “refresh” parts of itself. Researchers analyzing brain scans from over 500 stroke survivors found that while the damaged side of the brain appears to age faster, the opposite, unaffected side can actually look younger. This...

03/30/2026

Register for the 2026 Fight Stroke Walk Today! Come together to celebrate the courage of stroke survivors, their families and caregivers, and remember those we've lost. This family-friendly 5K walk features live music from First Call Band, tribute towers, and free face painting.
Register Here: https://thestrokeawarenessfoundation.ticketspice.com/2026-fight-stroke-walk

Post-Stroke Programs:
Find Strength, Support, and a Way Forward After Stroke. Connect with post-stroke programs offering services, guidance, and support throughout the recovery journey.

REACH by Ability Path: REACH provides specialized therapeutic services and support for adults with stroke and brain injuries. Discover innovative tools like Hypervibe to improve balance and mobility, combined with expert rehabilitation guidance and support.
https://abilitypath.org/services/adult-services/stroke-and-brain-injury-services/

Champion The Challenges: Whether you’re a stroke survivor or supporting someone who is, take your first step toward recovery with practical strategies and tips to guide, inspire, and encourage you every step of the way. These award-winning, easy-to-read booklets are written and narrated by a stroke survivor. Read The Quick Read Booklets by Champion The Challenges.
https://www.championthechallenges.org/booklets/

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke: Empowering stroke survivors to reflect, inspire hope, connection, and purpose in recovery through storytelling. This process amplifies diverse voices and fosters deep connections among those who have shared similar challenges. Listen To Stroke Survivor Stories From Beyond Stillness.
https://www.beyondstillness.org/

Pacific Stroke Association: Learn from experts and connect with others through free educational forums for stroke survivors and caregivers.
https://pacificstrokeassociation.org/

https://conta.cc/41zmYDh

Email from Stroke Awareness Foundation 5K walk at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden 5/3/26. Join us in the Fight Against Stroke and Help Save Lives. Come together to celebrate the courage of stroke s

03/27/2026

Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods like chips, frozen meals, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks may significantly raise the risk of serious heart problems. In a major U.S. study, people consuming around nine servings per day had a 67% higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart disease compared to those eating about one serving. The risk didn’t just jump at high levels either. Each additional daily serving increased the likelihood of these events by more than 5%, even after accounting for calories, overall diet quality, and common health conditions.

Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods like chips, frozen meals, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks may significantly raise the risk of serious heart problems. In a major U.S. study, people consuming around nine servings per day had a 67% higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death from h...

03/25/2026

Getting your hair washed at the salon should be a relaxing experience, but in rare cases a trip to the hairdresser can result in an emergency neurology consult.

Dizziness, weakness, numbness, or a sudden headache following a hair wash could be a sign of beauty parlor stroke syndrome -- a vertebral artery stroke resulting from compression of the vessels on the back of the head.

If the hair wash was a prolonged experience and the neck was hyperextended to reach the sink, the "vertebral arteries, most commonly, could get pushed or compressed and decrease blood flow to the brain stem area," explained Anna Hohler, MD, director of neurology for Northwell Health's Westchester Region.

It occurs most commonly in older patients, she said, but it can occur in younger patients too, especially if they have problems with their blood vessel connective tissue or have conditions like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome where they're at risk for blood vessel tearing or dissection. Having high cholesterol or other stroke risk factors also increases risk of beauty parlor stroke syndrome.

Hyperextending the neck during a hair wash could result in rare vertebral artery stroke