Stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain stops, either from a clot blocking an artery or from bleeding. About 800,000 strokes occur in the US each year. Treatment focuses on dissolving clots quickly with tissue plasminogen activator or removing them with devices, then preventing another stroke with blood thinners, blood pressure control, and cholesterol medication.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing neuroprotective drugs that may limit brain damage in the hours after stroke, devices that extend the treatment window, stem cell therapies aimed at helping the brain rewire and recover, and new approaches to rehabilitation. Researchers are also studying ways to prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation using newer anticoagulants and left atrial appendage closure devices.
Neuroprotection
Drugs that protect brain cells during and after stroke are being tested alongside clot removal. The goal is to save tissue that might otherwise die even after blood flow returns.
Recovery and rehabilitation
Studies are testing brain stimulation, robotic devices, intensive therapy protocols, and drugs like fluoxetine to see if they improve arm function, walking, and speech after stroke. Several trials combine rehab with medications that may help the brain form new connections.
Extended treatment windows
Imaging that shows salvageable brain tissue is allowing doctors to treat some strokes up to 24 hours after symptoms start. Trials are testing whether more people can benefit from late treatment.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on stroke type (ischemic or hemorrhagic), time since stroke, severity of symptoms, other medical conditions, and for prevention trials, specific risk factors like atrial fibrillation.
What types of trials are currently open
- Acute treatment trials — Testing drugs or devices used in the first hours after stroke to restore blood flow or protect brain tissue from damage.
- Prevention trials — Studies of medications, procedures, or lifestyle interventions to prevent first or recurrent stroke in high-risk groups.
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing therapy approaches, devices, brain stimulation, or drugs to improve movement, speech, cognition, or daily function after stroke.
- Recovery trials — Studies of stem cells, growth factors, or other biologics aimed at helping the brain heal and reorganize months or years after stroke.
- Registry studies — Following stroke survivors over time to understand recovery patterns, long-term outcomes, and which treatments work best for different stroke types.
Recently added Stroke trials
Developing a Tailored Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for Sturge-Weber Syndrome
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the neuropsychological profile of Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) in children and adults with this rare neurocutaneous condition. SWS affects approximately 1 in 50,000 live births and is characterized by brain blood vessel malformations, facial port-wine stains, and abnormal vascularization in the brain, skin, and eyes. Patients are at high risk for epileptic seizures, stroke-like episodes, glaucoma, and motor and cognitive difficulties. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses in visuospatial abilities, working memory, and executive functions in individuals with SWS? * What is the detailed neuropsychological profile of patients with SWS who do not have intellectual disability? * Are there different cognitive-behavioral phenotypes between patients with and without the characteristic facial port-wine stain (PWS)? * How do clinical variables such as seizure history and brain involvement patterns relate to specific cognitive deficits? Participants will undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery that includes: * Intellectual functioning tests (K-BIT2) to measure verbal and non-verbal intelligence * Executive function evaluation (BRIEF2) assessing behavioral regulation, emotional regulation, and cognitive regulation * Language assessment including receptive vocabulary (PPVT) and grammatical comprehension (TCGB-2) * Visuospatial skills testing (Beery-Buktenica VMI) evaluating visual-motor integration * Working memory assessment (WISC-IV/WAIS-IV digit span and spatial span subtests) * Learning abilities evaluation including reading (Battery for the Assessment of - Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography), writing, and mathematical skills (ABCA test) * Additional assessments for attention, verbal memory, and spatial memory as needed The study will recruit SWS patients through collaboration with patient associations and Telethon support. Participants will continue their standard medical care throughout the study, and all medications and therapies will be recorded. The neuropsychological testing will be conducted at IRCCS San Raffaele and Sapienza University Department of Psychology. The study aims to identify a cognitive-behavioral phenotype for SWS, develop evidence-based guidelines for neuropsychological monitoring, create personalized recommendations for educational adaptations, produce training materials for healthcare professionals and educators, and establish a multidisciplinary framework for supporting individuals with SWS. This research addresses a critical knowledge gap, as previous studies have focused mainly on general intellectual functioning and the prevalence of intellectual disability and language disorders, without providing detailed neuropsychological profiles, particularly for patients without intellectual disability.
Tele-CE in Severe Stroke
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effects of home-based cross-education on lower limb neuroplasticity in severe stroke. The main questions the investigators aim to answer are: * What are the effects of home-based cross-education on lower limb neuroplasticity? * What are the effects of home-based cross-education on lower limb function? * Is home-based cross-education feasible to administer and accepted by participants? Participants will take part in ten home-based, remotely supervised sessions, during which participants will either perform unilateral skill and strength training of the unaffected lower limb (Tele-Cross Education or Tele-CE) or cognitive training and unilateral movements of the unaffected lower limb (Tele-control). Each participant will experience measures of brain and spinal activity and motor function testing before and after both sessions (Tele-CE and Tele-control). Each participant will also be asked to fill out a feedback questionnaire to assess acceptability after intervention sessions (Tele-CE and Tele-control).
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