Tag : CBF

Washington: Strokes are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and globally. Several environmental and biological factors are known to influence stroke risk and outcome. A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, analyzed the cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation of individuals who had experienced strokes. The team found that cerebral autoregulation (CA) -- one of the key processes to maintain sufficient blood supply to the brain -- displayed a daily rhythm in stroke patients, with more degraded regulation during nighttime and morning hours, as compared to that in the afternoon hours. Their results, which are published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, are relevant for health care planning during stroke recovery. "The care and course of actions done after a stroke are essential for optimal rehabilitation. Our study suggests that the daily rhythm of CBF regulation in stroke patients may be highly relevant to managing an individual's activity and stroke recovery," said senior author, Kun Hu, PhD, of the Medical Biodynamics Program in the Brigham's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. Kun added, "Exercise and surgery post-stroke could be more optimal when scheduled during afternoon hours, as this is when dynamic CA functions more effectively. These results may improve our understanding of a vulnerable time window for the cerebrovascular system and help guide daily activity and personal care during stroke recovery, which could improve health outcomes for patients who have had a stroke." Stable CBF is a necessary component for normal brain function. Dramatic changes in CBF can cause increased crani ...