Stroke in the Very Elderly

Very elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to stroke. Despite substantial advances in stroke research and therapeutics, there are considerable gaps in knowledge about optimal stroke care for the very elderly, who are less likely to receive evidence-based therapies than younger individuals. Identifying ways to optimize the treatment of stroke in the oldest old has increasingly become a priority as the prevalence of stroke is expected to rise with the rapidly growing elderly population worldwide. In this chapter, we discuss current evidence for stroke prevention and treatment in the very elderly as well as the challenges in managing stroke in this high-risk population.