Brain Cell Loss Study

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December 9th, 2005

"Early Treatment for Strokes is Vital"

A recent study showed that the loss of brain cells during a stroke takes place at an incredibly high rate. The study also showed that people should recognize symptoms of a stroke so that they can act quickly to help the victim. Stroke victims who receive quick medical attention do not lose as many brain cells as those that do not. The study''s findings highlight the need for further training for doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners, as well as the general public, to look out for stroke symptoms.

A new drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can stop the death of brain cells in stroke victims, but only if the medicine is given within three hours of the stroke. Additional medications and techniques that, if given quickly, can reduce the amount of brain damage incurred, include surgery and giving anticoagulants.

If a stroke victim is left without help, they will lose pieces of their brain about the size of a circle with a 1cm diameter every 12 minutes. The brain cells near the dead brain cell become affected by the loss of blood and also begin to breakdown and die.

The new statistics, recently unveiled by Dr. Jeffrey L. Saver, of University of California Los Angeles Medical School, show that some 1.9 million brain-cells die each minute after a stroke. Some 14 billion nerve synapses also die each minute there is no medical attention.

Even calling 911 when a person appears to be having some sort of stroke can save millions of brain cells.

These new numbers show that a person should get medical attention as soon as possible and even a few minutes may mean the difference between a full recovery and a lifetime of serious injury, damages, and even death.