Abstract:

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. There are two main types of stroke, hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is when there a bleed in the brain, whereas an ischemic stroke is the result of blockage of blood flow to the brain, which leads to degeneration, neurotoxicity, inflammation, and apoptosis. This damage not only affects the ischemic core, but also neuronal, astrocyte, and synaptic survival in the peri-infarct region and connected areas. The prevalence of ischemic stroke is predicted to increase as the global population ages. Between 1970 and 2008 there has been a 100% increase in stroke incidence in low income countries. For example, the estimated losses in gross domestic product, as the result of vascular diseases, including stroke, have ranged from $20 million in Ethiopia to $1 billion in China and India.