ABSTRACT
Stroke is a devastating disease that affects more than 15 million individuals and is responsible for approximately 6 million deaths each year worldwide (Strong et al. 2007). Besides its deleterious consequences on survival, stroke resulted in more than 50 million lost disability-adjusted life years around the world in 2005, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in the population aged over 60, and 38% of the burden of cardiovascular diseases in the same age group (Strong et al. 2007). Therefore, a major challenge for the coming years will be to develop strategies to reduce the harmful consequences of stroke.
