Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (761 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A spectrum of pathological conditions of impaired blood flow in the brain. They can involve vessels (arteries or veins) in the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. Major categories include intracranial arteriovenous malformations; brain ischemia; cerebral hemorrhage; and others.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cerebrovascular Disorder; Brain Vascular Disorders; Brain Vascular Disorder; Vascular Disorder, Brain; Vascular Disorders, Brain; Intracranial Vascular Disorders; Intracranial Vascular Disorder; Vascular Disorder, Intracranial.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Brain Diseases; Vascular Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease; Brain Ischemia; Carotid Artery Diseases; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases; Cerebrovascular Trauma; Dementia, Vascular; Intracranial Arterial Diseases; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations; Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis; Intracranial Hemorrhages; Leukomalacia, Periventricular; Sneddon Syndrome; Stroke; Susac Syndrome
Related concepts
- Arteries
- Veins
- Cerebrum
- Cerebellum
- Brain Stem
- Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations
- Brain Ischemia
- Cerebral Hemorrhage
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 482,172 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cerebrovascular Disorders” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 115,047 of them (23.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 145,941 records.
Reviews account for 65,085 records (13.5%) and meta-analyses for 10,238. Randomized controlled trials number 14,675 (3.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 126,751 |
| 2000-2009 | 94,433 |
| 2010-2019 | 145,941 |
| 2020 onward | 115,047 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 65,085 | 13.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 10,238 | 2.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 14,675 | 3.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Cerebrovascular Disorders"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cardiovascular medicine
Cardiovascular medicine has an unusually large body of randomized trials, so the type of outcome matters: hard clinical events such as death, heart attack and stroke carry more weight than changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or imaging markers that only predict risk. Observational studies can show associations but are confounded by age, lifestyle and other illness. Check whether a result is about prevention or treatment, the baseline risk of participants, and the absolute rather than only the relative size of any benefit.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decomposition Analysis of High BMI-Attributable Stroke Burden in China: Population Aging as the Dominant Driver | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42813392 · DOI · PMC13625043 |
| TMS-Derived Neurophysiological Measures of Corticospinal Excitability, Intracortical Excitability, and Interhemispheric Interactions Associated With Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Systematic Review | 2026 | Systematic review Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42830194 · DOI · PMC13634656 |
| Psychometric properties of the timed backward walk test in people with stroke | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42861797 · DOI · PMC13670358 |
Decomposition Analysis of High BMI-Attributable Stroke Burden in China: Population Aging as the Dominant Driver [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundHigh body-mass index (BMI) is the second largest contributor to stroke burden and the fastest-growing risk factor for stroke globally.
- Closing excerpt
- Effective burden reduction will require integrated prevention strategies targeting both the elderly population and modifiable metabolic risk factors.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (246 words)
BackgroundHigh body-mass index (BMI) is the second largest contributor to stroke burden and the fastest-growing risk factor for stroke globally. Given China's rapidly aging population and the increasing obesity epidemic, understanding the long-term trends and drivers of stroke burden is critical.ObjectivesHigh BMI is a chief risk factor for stroke. We aim to evaluate the long-term trends and population risk on stroke mortality burden caused by high BMI in Chinese population between 1990 and 2023.MethodsThe decomposition analysis and linear regression were utilized to determine the contribution of population aging and other risk factors to the changing trends in the mortality and disability-adjusted life year (DALYs) of stroke caused by high BMI.ResultsIn China, the mortality rate of stroke caused by high BMI increased by 1.640/100,000 during the study period of 1990-2023. The increase was decomposed as 1.180/100,000 due to population aging and 0.460/100,000 due to other risk factors, with population aging contributing 72% and other risk factors contributing 28%. The DALYs rate increased by 52.228/100,000, of which 32.999/100,000 was due to population aging and 19.229/100,000 was due to other risk factors. Notably, population aging contributed 63% of the increase. These findings confirm that population aging was the dominant driver of the increased stroke burden attributable to high BMI, whether measured by mortality or DALY.ConclusionsPopulation aging is the dominant driver of the increasing stroke burden attributable to high BMI in China. Effective burden reduction will require integrated prevention strategies targeting both the elderly population and modifiable metabolic risk factors.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42813392 · DOI · PMC13625043
TMS-Derived Neurophysiological Measures of Corticospinal Excitability, Intracortical Excitability, and Interhemispheric Interactions Associated With Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Systematic Review [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Motor recovery after stroke is associated with changes in corticospinal integrity, intracortical excitability, and interhemispheric interactions.
- Closing excerpt
- Standardized TMS protocols are needed to clarify their monitoring, prognostic, and treatment-response value.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (324 words)
Motor recovery after stroke is associated with changes in corticospinal integrity, intracortical excitability, and interhemispheric interactions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) provides neurophysiological measures of these processes, but their relationship with motor recovery across randomized controlled trials remains uncertain. This systematic review synthesized evidence from randomized controlled trials investigating TMS-derived neurophysiological measures associated with motor recovery following TMS-based neuromodulation after stroke. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase were searched for studies published between January 1, 2016, and July 10, 2026. Eligible trials enrolled adults with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, assessed at least one TMS-derived neurophysiological measure, and reported a motor or functional outcome. Study selection followed PRISMA 2020, risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Owing to methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. The search identified 1441 records; after removal of 519 duplicates, 922 records were screened, 55 full-text reports were assessed, and 16 randomized controlled trials were included. Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, MEP status, and resting motor threshold were the most frequently reported measures. Several trials found that changes in corticospinal excitability accompanied improvements in upper-limb function, activities of daily living, gait, or balance. One trial found greater motor gains among participants with preserved baseline MEPs; however, the contemporary randomized-trial evidence is insufficient to establish MEP status as a predictor of differential response to neuromodulation. In contrast, short-interval intracortical inhibition, cortical silent period, and interhemispheric inhibition were assessed in very few trials, whereas intracortical facilitation was not directly evaluated in any eligible RCT. Most studies raised some risk-of-bias concerns, and one study had high overall risk. Certainty was moderate for clinical motor recovery, low for MEP- and motor-threshold-based measures, and very low for intracortical and interhemispheric measures. Overall, MEP-derived measures and resting motor threshold were the most frequently reported neurophysiological domains, whereas baseline MEP status was evaluated in only one stratified trial. Standardized TMS protocols are needed to clarify their monitoring, prognostic, and treatment-response value.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42830194 · DOI · PMC13634656
Psychometric properties of the timed backward walk test in people with stroke [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveTo examine the psychometric properties of the Timed Backward Walk test in people with stroke.
- Closing excerpt
- It is a feasible and sensitive complement to forward gait assessments.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (191 words)
ObjectiveTo examine the psychometric properties of the Timed Backward Walk test in people with stroke.DesignCross-sectional study.Subjects60 people with stroke and 30 healthy adults aged 55 years and older.MethodsParticipants performed the Timed Backward Walk test and standard clinical assessments. Discriminative validity was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve. Reliability (one-week test-retest, inter-rater, intra-rater) was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct validity was examined through correlations with motor function, strength, balance, and gait measures.ResultsPeople with chronic stroke took significantly longer to complete the test than healthy adults (p < 0.001), with an area under the curve of 0.968 and an optimal cut-off of 7.22 s. Test-retest, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability were all excellent. The standard error of measurement was 1.62 s and the minimal detectable change was 4.49 s. The complete time showed strong positive correlations with functional mobility and gait speed measures (ρ = 0.840-0.897) and moderate negative correlations with balance, lower-limb motor function, and ankle dorsiflexor strength (ρ = -0.408 to -0.647). The Timed Backward Walk test demonstrated excellent reliability, discriminative validity, and construct validity in people with chronic stroke. It is a feasible and sensitive complement to forward gait assessments.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42861797 · DOI · PMC13670358
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Can oral anticoagulants be safely discontinued after atrial fibrillation ablation? A systematic review and meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data [4]
- Research article Endovascular thrombectomy for patients with large-core ischaemic stroke presenting up to 24 h after onset (ATLAS): a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis with central imaging adjudication [5]
- Research article Edaravone dexborneol in acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials with clinical and thrombectomy-specific subgroup analyses [6]
- Research article Optimal antithrombotic therapy for post-ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A frequentist network meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Systematic review and meta-analysis of stroke blood biomarker data highlights need for more translational research methods [8]
- Research article Adjuvant effects of vagus nerve stimulation on post-stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Liu X, Zhou H, Meng R, Yu C, Wang F, Liu Y. Decomposition Analysis of High BMI-Attributable Stroke Burden in China: Population Aging as the Dominant Driver. . 2026. PMID 42813392 · DOI · PMC13625043
- Pereira GS, da Silva ML, Baptista AF, de Araujo JE. TMS-Derived Neurophysiological Measures of Corticospinal Excitability, Intracortical Excitability, and Interhemispheric Interactions Associated With Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Systematic Review. . 2026. PMID 42830194 · DOI · PMC13634656
- Qin Y, Li S, Chen P, Wong TWL, Lai CYY, Ng SSM. Psychometric properties of the timed backward walk test in people with stroke. . 2026. PMID 42861797 · DOI · PMC13670358
- Barbosa LM, Oliveira VMR, Rivera A, Araújo B, Cabral DCBI, Consoli LN, et al.. Can oral anticoagulants be safely discontinued after atrial fibrillation ablation? A systematic review and meta-analysis of reconstructed time-to-event data. Heart Rhythm. 2026. PMID 41513055 · DOI
- Sarraj A, Thomalla G, Yoshimura S, Huo X, Costalat V, Zaidat OO, et al.. Endovascular thrombectomy for patients with large-core ischaemic stroke presenting up to 24 h after onset (ATLAS): a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis with central imaging adjudication. Lancet. 2026. PMID 42107392 · DOI
- Tariq E, Ahmed H, Qazi TI, Muhaimin A, Malik AA, Soomro J, et al.. Edaravone dexborneol in acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials with clinical and thrombectomy-specific subgroup analyses. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2026. PMID 42165867 · DOI
- Ibrahim A, Balbaa E, Awashra A, Shubietah A, Cavolina G, Villari A, et al.. Optimal antithrombotic therapy for post-ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A frequentist network meta-analysis. J Neurol Sci. 2026. PMID 41797114 · DOI
- Smothers CG, Gandhi SA, Chang JH, Tahir SM, Kelley J, Wang E, et al.. Systematic review and meta-analysis of stroke blood biomarker data highlights need for more translational research methods. Nat Commun. 2026. PMID 42062243 · DOI · PMC13338412
- Zhou J, Sang M, Shang X, Gao X. Adjuvant effects of vagus nerve stimulation on post-stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2025. PMID 41469051 · DOI · PMC12766840
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.