Hospital Conducts Research Into Stroke Prevention And Treatment Participants Being Recruited
June 7, 2007Helen Hayes Hospital is conducting several research studies examining new ways to prevent recurrent strokes and new treatments for stroke recovery. Individuals who have had a stroke are being recruited for participation.
Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) is a† multicenter clinical trial being funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research seeks to determine how to best prevent a second stroke in someone who has experienced a small subcortical stroke. Such strokes often occur at a younger age than other types of stroke and they can cause arm or leg weakness, as well as mild to severe memory loss, mood swings and impairment in judgment. Hypertension is the leading cause of these strokes and the study will also examine how to best control this risk factor.
Individuals who have had a small stroke within the previous few months are eligible to participate. Study participants will be evaluated and followed by a neurologist and cardiologist at Helen Hayes Hospital and may receive free anti- hypertensive medication, if needed, as well as aspirin and study medication. A total of 2,500 individuals are being enrolled in this study at over 60 sites internationally. For additional information, or to be screened for participation, call Laura Tenteromano, R.N., C.C.R.C. at 845-786-4854.
Helen Hayes is also continuing to recruit participants for another stroke prevention study that has been underway for a few years. Brothers and/or sisters who have both had ischemic stroke are being sought so researchers may examine genes that may increase the risk of having such a stroke. The brothers and/or sisters need not live near each other as the study requires only a single blood test. This study is funded by the NIH in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic. For additional information, call Laura Tenteromano at the number above.
The principal investigator for these studies is Jason Greenberg, M.D., Director of Stroke Rehabilitation Services at Helen Hayes Hospital. A graduate of Swathmore College, Dr. Greenberg received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He recently joined Helen Hayes Hospital from Wake Forest University, where he spent over a decade working in acute stroke neurology and stroke rehabilitation. His work has been widely published in a number of professional journals and books and he has served as a reviewer for the Journal of Neurological Sciences, the Journal of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair and Stroke. At Helen Hayes Hospital, Dr. Greenberg leads a team of nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists and other professionals whose goal is to maximize the recovery of individuals with stroke.
Stroke is the nationís third leading cause of death and approximately 10% of survivors experience another stroke within one year.† Stroke causes paralysis, as well as impairments in speech, memory, judgment, sensation and coordination.
