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The Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI) is the largest, most comprehensive
neuroscience center in the Rocky Mountain region. A non-profit organization
located on the campus of Swedish Medical Center, CNI has seven programs
and ten services for people with neurological illness. Each program
provides five components: a comprehensive team approach; education
programs; research and clinical trials; outcomes studies; and outreach
to outlying communities.
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Under the direction of Don B. Smith, MD, the CNI Stroke Program takes
a leadership role in research and clinical trials for stroke prevention
and treatment.
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CNI was the first Denver site to participate in clinical trials for
the clot-busting drug t-PA, which led to its FDA approval as a treatment
for acute stroke.
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Stroke is a cererovascular injury that occurs when blood flow to
the brain is interrupted by a clogged or burst artery.
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Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States,
killing 160,000 Americans per year.
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More than 730,000 Americans have a new or recurrent stroke each year.
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Every minute in the United States, someone has a stroke.
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Over the course of a lifetime, four out of every five American families
will be touched by stroke.
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Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability. Four million
Americans are living with the effects of stroke.
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Stroke costs the United States more than $30 billion annually. Direct
costs to hospitals, physicians and rehabilitation add up to $17 billion.
Indirect costs such as lost productivity and the toll on families
total $13 billion.
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Stroke increases with age. Every decade after age 55, the risk
of stroke doubles.
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Stroke kills twice as many American women each year as breast cancer.
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African-Americans are twice as likely as white Americans to have
a stroke, and twice as likely to die from a stroke.
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Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity,
heart disease, excessive alcohol consumption, and high cholesterol.
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Stroke symptoms signal a Brain Attack: If you see or have any of
these symptoms, call 911! Every minute counts.
