World's First Human Trial to Cool Brains of Stroke Patients

A world-first human trial, led by Melbourne researchers, to halt the death of brain cells by cooling the brain and blood in patients suffering from stroke.

Nearly 60,000 Australians suffer from a stroke each year, but only 20 pc are eligible to be treated with the clot busting drug tPA - tissue Plasminogen activator that reopens blood supply to the brain.

Stroke – Early Warning Signs - Risk Factor - Rehab - Treatment
Stroke can cause permanent disability and it is important to recognize its early warning signs to stop its progress. Early warning signs of stroke include sudden weakness of facial muscles.

The researchers believe that the trial, if successful, will save tens of thousands of Australians each year from the life-long disabilities caused by stroke, reports the Herald Sun.

"Once a blood vessel is blocked after a stroke, it's being starved of oxygen and starts to die off. If we can slow down the rate of damage to brain tissue and blood vessels, we will buy ourselves more time to safely clot-bust and restore blood flow," said Associate Prof David Howells, head of the Florey Neuroscience Institute's stroke unit.

"Instead of there being a 4 1/2-hour window where we can use tPA, you potentially have theoretically longer," he added.

Top 10 Facts on Stroke
Strokes occur when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. It is imperative to detect the signs of a stroke and rush the patient to the hospital at once. Here are some interesting facts on stroke.

The new hypothermia technique aims to slow metabolism in the brain and extend the time for which stroke patients can be given the drug.

The treatment works by lowering a patients' core temperature by three degrees to 34 degrees for 24 hours. This is done by placing cooling pads around the body or injecting into the blood of a tiny device, which acts like a refrigerator.

How to Deal with a Stroke - Signs - Symptoms - Risk Factors - Prevention
Stroke is a brain attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It affects all age groups; according to the WHO, 15 million people are affected by stroke annually.

While the trial of 1500 patients is happening this year in Europe, Howells and his Melbourne team will be working on developing a biomarker to measure if the treatment is working for individual patients.

Source-ANI

Brilliant Human Brain
The most amazing and complex organ in the entire universe, the human brain continues to remain an enigma.