- Researchers from UCLA Health have conducted a pilot study on the effectiveness of precise electrical brain stimulation as a potential treatment for acute ischemic stroke.
- The study utilized a technique called high-definition cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (HD C-tDCS), targeting the specific brain regions affected by reduced blood flow.
- Initial results showed promising outcomes, with a median rescue of 66% of the endangered brain tissue surrounding the stroke core in patients receiving HD C-tDCS.
The new study, published in
Acute ischemic stroke is characterized by a clot obstructing blood flow to a specific region of the brain and it is one of the most common forms of stroke, accounting for approximately
Many individuals are not eligible for the primary treatments presently offered for acute ischemic stroke, which include clot-dissolving medications and a device used to physically extract clots from the bloodstream, due to the time of onset of the event.
For example, some treatments, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are typically administered within 3 to 4.5 hours after the onset of the stroke, but many people do not reach the hospital in such a short time frame.
Furthermore, among those who do qualify for these treatments, only approximately 20–30% achieve a state of being free from disabilities 3 months following their stroke.
This technique involves positioning a series of electrodes on the scalp to administer a mild inhibitory electrical current to the region of the brain affected by reduced blood flow.
Although this noninvasive stimulation method has been previously used to treat…
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