Sunday, April 17, 2011

Neurology and Neuroscience Our Stroke Centers

About Our Stroke Centers

NewYork-Presbyterian's three comprehensive Stroke Centers are among the few New York State-designated primary stroke care locations in New York City.
Our full-service Stroke Centers offer advanced resources to minimize the immediate and secondary brain damage from a stroke and maximize the patient's chance for full recovery. Stroke specialists at our neuro-intensive care units provide round-the-clock surveillance, state-of-the-art brain monitoring, and specialized medical and surgical treatments. Having advanced resources such as these are critical, especially in the first 48 hours   more read...

New source of support for stroke survivors in Ellesmere Port

New source of support for stroke survivors in Ellesmere Port

PEOPLE affected by stroke in Chester and West Cheshire now have access to new stroke-specific support, which aims to provide mutual help and peer support in a relaxed and social environment.
Three new groups will be run, in Ellesmere Port, Chester and Vale Royal, and are intended not only for stroke survivors but also carers and family.
Andrea Davies, long-term support co-ordinator for The Stroke Association, said: ‘We know from listening to stroke survivors that having a support network is so important in promoting rehabilitation. We’re pleased to be offering this essential service, which gives people living with the effects of stroke the opportunity to meet others with similar experiences.
‘Stroke survivors often find their world is turned upside down by stroke, and may need support in rebuilding their lives. Some may be aiming to get back to work, while others may wish to find new activities in which to become involved. This group will fill a gap and allow them to meet with others who can relate to the challenges of rebuilding their life after a stroke.”
Volunteers are also needed to help develop the service, as well as set up and run the group, which ultimately will be member led and managed. Compassion, humour and listening skills are essential to the role.  more ready...

Lower Stroke Death Risk in Close-Knit Neighborhoods

Lower Stroke Death Risk in Close-Knit Neighborhoods

Study Suggests Health Benefits for People Who Have Supportive Neighbors
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
group of seniors sharing a walk
April 14, 2011 -- Seniors who live in supportive neighborhoods in which they have frequent opportunities to interact with friends and neighbors may have a reduced risk of dying from a stroke compared to those who live in less sociable neighborhoods, new research suggests.
“Social isolation is unhealthy on many levels, and there is a lot of literature showing that increased social support improves not just stroke, but many other health outcomes in seniors,” study researcher Cari Jo Clark, ScD, of the University of Minnesota, says in a news release.
“What is unique about our research is that we have taken this to the neighborhood level instead of just looking at the individual.”

Measuring Neighborhood Cohesiveness

The researchers at the University of Minnesota and Rush University in Chicago studied 5,789 seniors living in three adjacent neighborhoods in Chicago. Of those in the study, 62% were African-American and 60% women. The average age was 75.
The research team interviewed the participants about their neighborhoods and interactions with neighbors. After 11 years, 701 people had suffered a stroke for the first time and 186 people had died from a stroke.
The researchers set out to measure what they called neighborhood “cohesiveness” by asking such questions as how often the people saw neighbors and friends talking -- outside in the yard or on the street.
They also asked the study participants whether they took care of each other, such as doing yard work for one another or helped watching children, and whether the people in the neighborhood looked out for neighbors or called if they noticed a problem.

Positive Social Environment

The researchers also asked whether people knew neighbors by name, whether they had friendly talks at least once a week, and whether they could call on their neighbors for help or a favor, such as lending a cup of sugar.
For each single point in the scoring system for neighborhood cohesion, stroke survival increased 53%.
Stroke incidence didn’t differ among neighborhoods, but survival did. It was far better for those living in cohesive neighborhoods, regardless of gender.  However, the difference in stroke survival was only seen in white study participants. This difference was not seen in African-American participants.
“Obviously, a complex set of factors influences health in older adults and we need to be careful drawing conclusions from these data,” Clark says.  “Other research also has shown that the health-protective effects of cohesive neighborhoods may be stronger in whites. We plan to conduct future studies to try to understand these findings.”
The researchers say one reason seniors who suffer strokes may be more likely to survive in closer-knit neighborhoods is that others looking out for them might assist in getting help sooner if stroke symptoms occur.
“I think this indicates that a positive neighborhood social environment is as important to senior health as stress or even crime, but it is really a complex issue,” Clark says. “Nonetheless, it underscores the positive aspects of close neighbors and neighborhoods and should help bolster efforts to improve such cohesiveness.”
“Given the importance of neighborhood environments to older individuals and the fact that the population is rapidly aging, the characteristics of neighborhoods are and will continue to be of relevance to public health policies,” the researchers conclude.
The study is published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart AssociationMORE READ...

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Brain Injury Association of New York State


Annual Conference Scheduled for June 2nd and 3rd!

Brain Injury Association of New York State

Brain injury – it’s the last thing on your mind, until it’s the only thing on your mind. A brain injury changes everything. Nothing in your world is the same. What now? Who can you turn to? How will you find the resources you need to cope?
The Brain Injury Association of New York State is here to help. Whatever the cause of the injury - combat-related traumatic brain injury, stroke, a brain tumor, blast injury, concussion, or an acquired brain injury from exposure to chemicals - the Brain Injury Association of New York State offers resources, information and support. Here, you will find the help and hope you’ve been looking for.
Since 1982, we have provided information, resources, programs, advocacy, and support services to brain injury survivors, family members, health care professionals, and educators.
You are not alone. Here, you will find the help and hope you’ve been looking for. To navigate through our website, please click on the topics listed in the left-side menu.
Because no one should face the trauma of brain injury alone.  More read....