DALLAS, March 12, 2021 — Each year, the International Stroke Conference (ISC) brings together the world’s leading stroke experts and researchers to share the latest learnings about how to best prevent, treat and beat stroke, the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. In 2021, for the first time ever, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is offering limited free access to select virtual sessions to laypeople through a program called Stroke Connection at ISC.

“The International Stroke Conference is where top scientists and healthcare providers come together to discuss the latest science and how it can be applied to improve the lives of stroke survivors and their families,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., neurologist and volunteer of the American Stroke Association Advisory Council. “Bringing survivors and families to the conference virtually is a wonderful way for them to learn about where cutting-edge stroke research into prevention, treatment and rehabilitation is heading, and is an exciting new capability that can be offered due to the conference being shifted online.”

Consumers who wish to register for free access to Stroke Connection at ISC can register at stroke.org/iscstrokeconnection. The scientific program, which begins March 17 and extends through March 25 for consumers, will consist of live and recorded sessions led by the world's top stroke experts. A maximum of 500 participants can connect to each live session. Recordings of each session will also be available on stroke.org.

Sessions available to registered attendees are:

  • Wednesday, March 17 at 3:00 pm CT: Physically Distanced Rehabilitation: Fad or Future? Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
  • Thursday, March 18 at 1:30 pm CT: Stroke in Women: The Association of Hormones with Stroke Risk Across Women of Different Ages and Race-Ethnicities. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
  • Friday, March 19 at 1:00 pm CT: Sleep and Brain Health: Time to Wake Up to the Risks. (No Q&A.)
  • Tuesday, March 23 at 1:00 pm CT: Greetings from American Heart Association/American Stroke Association CEO Nancy Brown and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association President and stroke neurologist Mitchell Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAAN, FAHA
  • Wednesday, March 24 at 1:00 pm CT: Stroke and Depression: Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.
  • Thursday, March 25 at 1:30 pm CT: Racing to Greater Life Expectancy by 2030: Is Racism a Tangible Target to Achieve Cerebrovascular Health Equity? Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

NOTE: Stroke Connection at ISC is intended for a survivor and consumer audience only. No continuing medical education credits will be offered to participants registered for the Stroke Connection program. Health care professionals seeking to register for the International Stroke Conference should register here.

Additional Resources:

The American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference (ISC) is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease. ISC 2021 will be held virtually, March 17-19, 2021. This 3-day conference features more than 1,200 compelling presentations in 21 categories that emphasize basic, clinical and translational sciences as they evolve toward a better understanding of stroke pathophysiology with the goal of developing more effective therapies. Engage in the International Stroke Conference on social media via #ISC21.

About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is a relentless force for a world with fewer strokes and longer, healthier lives. We team with millions of volunteers and donors to ensure equitable health and stroke care in all communities. We work to prevent, treat and beat stroke by funding innovative research, fighting for the public’s health, and providing lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based association was created in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit stroke.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Alexson Calahan: 515-994-0772; Alexson.Calahan@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org