ABSTRACT
Stroke is primarily a disease of the elderly. The incidence of stroke under age 65 is less
than 2/1000/yr, but rises to 4.6/1000/yr for men and 3.8/1000/yr for women aged 65 to 74
years, and to 9.4/1000/yr for men and 7.4/1000/yr for women aged 75 to 84 years (1).
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause
of neurological disability. It is often felt to be a fate worse than death by elderly patients.
