Every year, 50,000 Canadians suffer a stroke. Another 300,000 people are living with the consequences of stroke, which is the leading cause of adult disability in Canada.
The next step in the investigation will be to determine the cause of the hemichannel malfunction. Scientists can then develop a compound to block brain cell hemichannels from opening, says MacVicar. Therapies for stroke patients may be available within five to 10 years, he adds.