Some brain cells are naturally protected against a stroke – and now we know why. Jack Mellor at the University of Bristol, UK, exposed slices of rats' hippocampi to the low-oxygen conditions typical of a stroke. Neurons in the hippocampi known to resist stroke damage acted differently from a population of vulnerable cells: they removed receptors for the neurotransmitter glutamate from their cell surface, reducing their sensitivity to the chemical. … full story

A natural form of Vitamin E called alpha-tocotrienol can activate mechanisms that clear toxins from nerve cells, preventing their death following a stroke. This process is one of three identified so far that this form of Vitamin E uses to protect brain cells after a stroke. It might be more potent than othter drugs targeting single mechanisms for preventing stroke damage. Ohio State University researchers previously reported that the alpha-tocotrienol … full story