Neuroscientists identify a silent memory killer hiding in plain sight for older adults

 Don't get sucked into hopelessness, depression and anxiety just because your FUCKINGLY INCOMPETENT? DOCTOR knows nothing about your 100% recovery!  You doctor somehow missed the recovery protocol that Pedro Bach-y-Rita  used to recover fully back in 1958 with only a partial brain! But you don't have anyone COMPETENT AT ALL, DO YOU?

Neuroscientists identify a silent memory killer hiding in plain sight for older adults

A new study links internalized stress and hopelessness to faster memory decline.

A new study finds that suppressed emotions may accelerate memory loss in older Americans, with researchers noting that cultural pressures and stereotypes often leave these emotional struggles unrecognized and untreated.

According to new research from Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, internalized stress may be silently raising the risk of memory loss specifically in older Chinese Americans.

“With the number of older Asian Americans growing significantly, it’s vital to better understand the risk factors of memory decline in this understudied population,” Michelle Chen, PhD, the study’s principal investigator and a core member of the Center for Healthy Aging Research at Rutgers, told Science Daily.

Many older immigrants contend with persistent stressors like language barriers and cultural differences. While this study focused specifically on Chinese Americans, the researchers say its findings may resonate across other older communities facing similar pressures.

To examine these effects, the team analyzed data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE)—the largest community-based cohort study of older Chinese Americans—which included interviews with more than 1,500 Chicago-area participants spanning from 2011 to 2017.

Related video: Everyday stress could be affecting your brain health (WCNC-TV Charlotte) 

The researchers looked at stress internalization, neighborhood cohesion, and external stress alleviation as key sociobehavioral factors, but only internalized stress emerged as strongly tied to memory decline. Marked by feelings of hopelessness and a tendency to absorb rather than express stress, it showed a consistent link to worsening memory across three waves of the PINE study. “Stress and hopelessness may go unnoticed in aging populations, yet they play a critical role in how the brain ages,” said Chen. “Because these feelings are modifiable, our goal is for this research to inform culturally sensitive stress-reduction interventions to mitigate these feelings in older adults.” The researchers noted that cultural expectations may also be influencing these outcomes. The model minority stereotype that casts Asian Americans as universally successful, educated, and healthy can add pressure while simultaneously obscuring emotional struggles, they wrote Older immigrants across many communities navigate the intersection of cultural identity, social isolation, and unaddressed emotional strain, often with limited access to culturally competent mental health support. The findings point to a meaningful opportunity: By addressing internalized stress through culturally sensitive, targeted strategies, it may be possible to protect both emotional well-being and cognitive health in aging immigrant populations.

Ground-Up: Foot Health & Mobility by Super Age

 You'll have to ask your therapist for these exercises

Ground-Up: Foot Health & Mobility

Mitochondrial–neuroimmune interfaces in post-stroke spasticity: from acute brain injury to chronic motor phenotypes

 Survivors would like SPASTICITY CURED! Why aren't you working on that? You're that incompetent you don't know what survivors want?

Mitochondrial–neuroimmune interfaces in post-stroke spasticity: from acute brain injury to chronic motor phenotypes

• 

  Zihang Huang *

• School of Medical Technology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China

Abstract

Post-stroke spasticity is a common and clinically consequential manifestation of the upper motor neuron syndrome, yet its mechanisms are incompletely explained by stretch reflex hyperexcitability alone. Established models emphasize corticospinal and corticoreticulospinal injury, altered brainstem descending drive, spinal reflex amplification, impaired inhibitory control, and secondary changes in skeletal muscle and connective tissue. In parallel, stroke induces profound mitochondrial stress and neuroimmune activation, including bioenergetic failure, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial quality-control disturbance, mitophagy dysregulation, mitochondrial danger signaling, glial activation, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and peripheral immune responses. This Review examines how these mitochondrial–neuroimmune processes may interface with established neural and peripheral mechanisms to shape the onset, persistence, and heterogeneity of post-stroke spasticity. We distinguish strict reflex-mediated spasticity from broader spastic hypertonia, emphasizing that chronic clinical phenotypes often reflect mixed contributions from descending pathway imbalance, spinal disinhibition, spastic dystonia, passive muscle stiffness, pain, and contracture. We propose a brain–spinal cord–muscle framework in which mitochondrial and immune responses after stroke may modify motor-network plasticity, spinal inhibitory remodeling, skeletal muscle metabolism, autophagy-related tissue adaptation, and systemic inflammatory–metabolic vulnerability. Direct PSS-specific evidence remains limited. Accordingly, mitochondrial and neuroimmune pathways are framed here as candidate modifiers of phenotype trajectory rather than as established causes, validated biomarkers, or established therapeutic targets for PSS. The novelty of this Review lies in integrating established circuit and muscle mechanisms with broader stroke mitochondrial–immune biology to define testable interfaces and priorities for longitudinal phenotyping and mechanism-based trials.

Adjuvant neuroprotective therapies for acute ischemic stroke in the reperfusion era: a comparative narrative review of clinical evidence for edaravone, edaravone-dexborneol, and butylphthalide

 

You'll have to ask your competent? doctor why the hell edaravone is approved in Japan since 2001 but not the US. If your doctor doesn't know this off the top of the head; you DON'T have a functioning stroke doctor!

Has your stroke hospital done anything with edaravone in the last decade?

 

• edaravone (20 posts to November 2011)

Or Butylphthalide (4 posts to December 2021)

Or dexborneol (4 posts to February 2024)

The latest here:

Adjuvant neuroprotective therapies for acute ischemic stroke in the reperfusion era: a comparative narrative review of clinical evidence for edaravone, edaravone-dexborneol, and butylphthalide

• W

  Weiqing Wang 1

• 

  Junsen Ye 2*

• 1. Department of Neurology, First People's Hospital of Jiande City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

• 2. Department of Scientific Research, First People's Hospital of Jiande City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Abstract

Reperfusion therapies, including intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment (EVT), are central to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) management; however, ischemia–reperfusion injury may limit recovery despite successful recanalization. This structured narrative review compares the clinical evidence, safety signals, and mechanistic literature for edaravone, butylphthalide (NBP), and the fixed-dose combination edaravone-dexborneol (EDB) as adjunctive neuroprotective approaches. The evidence base is heterogeneous with respect to population, background reperfusion treatment, outcome timing, and geographical setting. In TASTE-2, EDB administered before EVT was associated with a modest increase in 90-day functional independence versus placebo (55.0% vs. 49.6%, p = 0.05), without an apparent safety signal; bridging alteplase was permitted in a subset of participants. In the BAST trial, NBP improved the prespecified 90-day functional outcome versus placebo among patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis and/or EVT (56.7% vs. 44.0%). Observational studies and meta-analyses provide supportive but non-confirmatory evidence for edaravone. Network meta-analyses generate relative rankings at individual endpoints, but indirect comparisons and differing outcome networks preclude definitive between-agent selection. Mechanistic studies indicate overlapping antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial, and neurovascular effects rather than exclusive pathway regulation. Biomarker and imaging approaches, including exploratory GFAP and UCH-L1 measurements, are promising research tools but are not yet validated for treatment selection in AIS. Accordingly, these agents should be regarded as candidates for further evidence-informed adjunctive use; future trials are needed to define reproducible patient-selection and treatment-timing strategies.

Clinical software for unsupervised automated net water uptake analysis predicts futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke

 You are that BLITHERINGLY STUPID you don't know that predictions are useless? Survivors would like EXACT RECOVERY PROTOCOLS! GET THERE!

Clinical software for unsupervised automated net water uptake analysis predicts futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke

• 

  Abdallah Aburub 1† *

• O

  Oussama Dob 1†

• M

  Mariana Gurschi 1

• Y

  Yashar Aghazadeh 1

• J

  Jumana Jaber 1

• Z

  Zaid Al-Tamimi 2

• Z

  Zaid Samhan 3

• L

  Lars Timmermann 4

• 

• 

• 

• A

  André Kemmling 1,9‡

• 1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

• 2. Clinic of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: 

This study aimed to determine whether automated net water uptake (NWU) measured on admission non-contrast computed tomography (CT) independently predicts futile recanalization (FR) in anterior-circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods: 

This was a retrospective single-center cohort study that included consecutive patients presenting at a tertiary care stroke center between January 2023 and April 2025. Patients were included if they presented with an anterior circulation LVO and had successful recanalization (mTICI 2b–3). An automated platform (VEOcore/MRAY) provided the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), perfusion metrics, and NWU. Associations with FR were analyzed using logistic regression. Discrimination was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Youden’s J statistic to identify an optimal NWU threshold, reporting the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.

Results: 

Among 91 patients, 62 (68.1%) achieved recanalization with a 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–4, and 29 (31.9%) met the criteria for FR (mRS score 5–6). Those with FR were older (81.6 ± 8.3 vs. 76.9 ± 10.7 years; p = 0.044) and had more severe strokes at presentation (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score of 16 [13–20] vs. 9.5 [6–15]; p < 0.001). NWU in the core was higher in FR (21.9% [7.0–29.4]) than in non-FR cases (3.0% [0.5–7.3]; p < 0.001) and correlated with 90-day mRS (Pearson r = 0.602; 95% CI 0.452–0.719; p < 0.001). In multivariable models, NWU remained independently associated with FR (odds ratio [OR] 1.15; 95% CI 1.06–1.24; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: 

Automated NWU on admission CT is an independent, strongly discriminative predictor of FR and 90-day disability. A tiered strategy using >11.5% as a risk flag and >17.5% as a high-specificity rule-in threshold may enhance early triage, prognostication, and clinical trial stratification. Prospective multicenter validation is warranted.

Application of photobiomodulation in post-stroke dysfunctions: a literature review of recent clinical studies

 You've known of this for over a decade and yet INCOMPETENTLY DIDN'T CREATE RECOVERY PROTOCOLS!

• photobiomodulation (16 posts to September 2012)

Application of photobiomodulation in post-stroke dysfunctions: a literature review of recent clinical studies

• C

  Chao Ren 1

• X

  Xiaohong Chi 2*

• 

  Yuan Jiang 2*

• 1. Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Longquanyi, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

• 2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Abstract

Stroke patients often experience varying degrees of dysfunctions after a stroke, including motor, cognitive, speech, and other functional impairments. These post-stroke dysfunctions seriously affect the daily life and quality of life of patients. For many years, researchers have devoted themselves to finding non-invasive treatment methods to improve these functional deficits and enhance patients’ quality of life. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive phototherapy, and can be an adjuvant therapy for various neurological disorders by promoting neurogenesis and eliciting anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative responses. Existing animal experimental evidence indicates that PBM may offer potential benefits for stroke patients. However, robust clinical evidence remains limited. Recent clinical studies provided new data supporting the efficacy of PBM in post-stroke dysfunctions, including motor, cognitive, and speech impairments. These studies used transcranial PBM (tPBM) for cognitive impairment and aphasia, or peripheral PBM directly to paretic limbs to yield positive outcomes for limb spasticity and pain. This mini-review summarizes key findings from these studies and discusses the associated challenges and prospects of PBM.

Predictive value of water swallow test score, serum albumin, and systemic immune-inflammation index for stroke-associated pneumonia in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction

 

'Associations' TELL YOU NOTHING ON HOW TO GET RECOVERED! 

Smart researchers would create pneumonia prevention protocols!

You've known of the problem for years and DONE NOTHING; YOU'RE FIRED!

• 11% Stroke-associated pneumonia (18 posts to October 2020)

Predictive value of water swallow test score, serum albumin, and systemic immune-inflammation index for stroke-associated pneumonia in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction

• 

  Jingjing Ding 1†

• 

  Haifeng Jin 2†

• 

  Xiaomei Ren 1

• 

  Jieli Geng 2*

• 1. Department of Neurology, Yizheng People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China

• 2. Department of Neurology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

Abstract

Objective: 

To identify independent predictors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute isolated pontine infarction (AIPI) and to investigate the association between SAP and short-term prognosis.

Methods: 

This retrospective study included 179 consecutive patients with AIPI admitted between March 2021 and March 2024. Baseline clinical data, swallowing function, and serum biomarkers were analyzed. Independent predictors of SAP were determined using multivariate logistic regression, and predictive performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: 

SAP occurred in 19 (10.61%) patients. Compared with patients without SAP, those who developed SAP were older and had higher Water Swallow Test (WST) scores, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), as well as lower serum albumin levels (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified WST score (OR = 2.622, 95% CI: 1.378–4.991, p = 0.003), serum albumin level (OR = 0.831, 95% CI: 0.735–0.940, p < 0.001), and SII (OR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002–1.006, p < 0.001) as independent predictors of SAP. The combined model incorporating these three variables demonstrated excellent predictive performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.938, sensitivity of 89.5%, and specificity of 86.9%. Furthermore, SAP was independently associated with short-term poor functional outcome [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥ 3] in patients with AIPI (OR = 8.082, 95% CI: 2.922–22.355, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: 

SAP is independently associated with a significantly increased risk of short-term poor functional outcome. WST score, serum albumin, and SII are independent predictors of SAP in patients with AIPI. Their combination provides a simple, cost-effective bedside model for early identification and prevention of post-stroke pneumonia.

Low hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet score as a risk marker for stroke-associated pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study

'Associations' TELL YOU NOTHING ON HOW TO GET RECOVERED! 

Smart researchers would create pneumonia prevention protocols!

You've known of the problem for years and DONE NOTHING; YOU'RE FIRED!

• 11% Stroke-associated pneumonia (18 posts to October 2020)

Low hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet score as a risk marker for stroke-associated pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study

• 

  Zhaoping Wu 1

• Q

  Qiruo Sun 2

• J

  Jianmei Zhan 1

• 

  Ming Yang 1

• 

  Tingting Duan 1

• H

  Hong Pan 3† *

• 

  Jiameng Xu 3† ‡ *

• 1. Department of Neurology, Quzhou People’s Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou, China

• 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Quzhou People’s Hospital, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou, China

Abstract

Background: 

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common and serious complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score reflects nutritional, inflammatory, and immune status, but its association with SAP remains unclear.

Methods: 

We retrospectively analyzed 1,766 consecutive AIS patients admitted between January 2019 and December 2023. HALP was calculated from blood tests obtained within 48 h of admission. Multivariable logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis, subgroup analysis, generalized additive modeling, and two-piecewise logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between HALP and SAP and to explore threshold effects.

Results: 

SAP occurred in 376 patients (21.3%). HALP was significantly lower in patients with SAP than in those without SAP [35.08 (18.59–51.86) vs. 44.55 (31.29–63.25), p < 0.001]. After full adjustment, each 1-unit increase in log2-HALP was associated with a 29% lower SAP risk (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.62–0.83, p < 0.001). The highest HALP quartile was associated with a lower SAP risk than the lowest quartile (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41–0.95; P for trend = 0.018). A non-linear association was identified, with an exploratory threshold at HALP approximately 27.7. Below this threshold, each log2-unit increase in HALP was associated with a 53% lower SAP risk (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.35–0.63, p < 0.001), whereas no significant association was observed above it. Adding HALP to the A2DS2 score produced a statistically significant but modest improvement in discrimination (AUC: 0.758 vs. 0.779, p = 0.004).

Conclusion: 

Low HALP score was independently and non-linearly associated with SAP in AIS, with an exploratory threshold near 27.7 that may help inform future risk-stratification research.