Statins induce angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis after stroke

From 2003, So my doctor, if he was up-to-date at all in 2006 could have given me the option to take statins immediately after the stroke by asking if I wanted to try something that had only been tested in rats. Hell yes. I wonder how many doctors today offer this to their patients. I'll add this to my next stroke instructions to my doctor. You can't be too prepared, your doctor won't be.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.10555/full

Abstract

We demonstrate that the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors atorvastatin and simvastatin enhance functional outcome and induce brain plasticity when administered after stroke to rats. With atorvastatin treatment initiated 1 day after stroke, animals exhibited significant increases in vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, angiogenesis, endogenous cell proliferation and neurogenesis, and an increase in the synaptic protein, synaptophysin. Atorvastatin-induced angiogenesis in a tube formation assay was reduced by an antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (FIK-1) and by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N-mono-methyl-L-arginine (L-NAME). Atorvastatin also induced phosphorylation of Akt and Erk in cultured primary cortical neurons. These data indicate that atorvastatin induced brain plasticity and has neurorestorative activity after experimental stroke. Ann Neurol 2003

Its now been tested in humans so your doctor should have no excuse to not know about this.
http://www.medwire-news.md/39/91658/Stroke/Acute_statin_therapy_improves_survival_after_ischemic_stroke.html