Understanding Brain Disease

By: Joseph B. Martin

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Synopsis: Understanding Brain Diseaseis as much for the specialist as it is for the lay person interested in finding out where we are today in the scientific attempts to understand and control such conditions as stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and BSE. The book will help build bridges between medical practitioners and researchers and the general public. One has only to take stock of Canadian statistics to realize the immense, and world-wide, significance of this research and the need for information -- Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. Each year, about 16,000 Canadians die from stroke. Each year, more women than men die from stroke. There are between 40,000 and 50,000 strokes in Canada each year. For every 10,000 Canadian children under the age of 19, there are 6. 7 strokes. About 300,000 Canadians are living with the effects of stroke. After age 55, theriskof stroke doubles every 10 years. A stroke survivor has a 20% chance of having another stroke within 2 years. Of every 100 people who have a stroke 15 die (15%) 10 recover completely (10%) 25 recover with a minor impairment or disability (25%) 40 are left with a moderate to severe impairment (40%) 10 are so severely disabled they require long-term care (10%) Stroke costs the Canadian economy $2. 7 billion a year. The average acute care costs is about $27,500 per stroke. Canadians spend a total of 3 million days in hospital because of stroke. - Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada Statistics