Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, 2S:30\-307, 2006 ^—\^ Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group. LLC P * ' ) Taylor &. FranciS ISSN: 1064-1963 print / 1525-6006 online ^-^ T.,ior6,Mantis coup DOI: 10.1080/10641960600549348 Functional MRI, Drugs, and Poststroke Recovery D. TOMBARI, M.C. RICCIARDI, N. BONAFFINI, M. PASQUINI, M. CECCONI, V. DI PIERO, AND G.L. LENZI Dept. of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy Stroke is the first cause of disability in industrialized countries. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of poststroke recovery appears to be crucial in improving motor performance and reducing disability in stroke patients. Strategies through which brain restores lost functions afier ischemic lesions are numerous. The mechanisms underlying poststroke recovery, known as cerebral plasticity, are so far hypothetical. However, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies recently have provided new insights in to stroke recovery. This article sketches out the mechanisms that are thought to underly recovery and focuses on fMRI experimental studies that have investigated the infiuence of a number of drugs on functional recovery. Functional MRI is a valuable tool in understanding functional recovery and may help to disclose new therapeutical approaches. Keywords drug treatment, functional magnetic resonance imaging, poststroke recovery, stroke Introduction Cerebrovascular disease is, in industrialized countries, the first cause of disability and the third cause of death after myocardial infarction and cancer. In Italy 100,000 new cases of stroke occur per year. General incidence is approximately 1-2 per 1,000 and grows exponentially with age. Thus, the risk of stroke for a young individual amounts to 1/100,000, increases to 1/1,000 at the age of 50, to 1/100 at the age of 70, and reaches 1/33 in subjects older than 85. The burden of poststroke disability on public health makes the study and the understanding of poststroke recovery a crucial issue in finding new strategies for improving motor function and reducing disability in stroke patients. Poststroke Recovery Strategies through which the brain restores lost functions after focal ischemic lesions are numerous. The mechanisms underlying poststroke recovery, known as cerebral plasticity, are so far hypothetical. Address correspondence to D. Tombari, 5th Chair of Neurology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Viale dell'tJnivesita 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; E-mail: dtombari@yahoo.com 301