World Stroke Day Proclamation 2015

See related article, p 3039. Stroke Day is an opportunity to proclaim a compelling universal message about stroke. Previous proclamations have emphasized challenges and opportunities to treat, rehabilitate, and prevent stroke (2006), the importance of small strokes (2008), and a prioritized world stroke agenda (2010).1,2 On the occasion of World Stroke Day 2015, an esteemed group of international stroke experts focus our attention on joining forces to prevent stroke and potentially preventable dementias.3 Key tenets of the 2015 proclamation include the following: (1) stroke and some dementias may be prevented; (2) shared risks (eg, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor diet) account for leading world health problems including major dementias of later life; (3) prevention has been neglected or not optimally applied; (4) poststroke dementia should be an integral part of stroke care; (5) major dementias commonly have a vascular component and detection and management of vascular risks should be encouraged; (6) organized stroke and dementia care and rehabilitation can improve outcomes; and (7) the need to better support and inform patients with stroke and caregivers, and a call to engage the public to increase knowledge that stroke and …