According to a study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, strokes are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality both domestically and internationally. It is recognized that a number of environmental and biological factors affect stroke risk and outcome. In the study, the researchers analyzed the cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation of individuals who had experienced strokes.

The study showed that cerebral autoregulation (CA), one of the crucial mechanisms that ensures the brain receives an adequate amount of blood, was degraded in the stroke patients. When the daily rhythms of stroke patients were observed, it was discovered that regulation was slower during the night and morning hours than in the afternoon. The researchers added that the daily rhythm of CBF modulation in stroke patients is highly significant for managing an individuals activity and stroke recovery.

CBF has a crucial role in maintaining healthy brain function. Hence, a procedure like CA is essential to maintain relatively stable CBF, especially when a person′s blood pressure (BP) increases. CA works by constricting and dilating blood vessels in the brain. In general, both the internal circadian clock and extrinsic activities like food consumption, sleep, and exercise can influence the daily cycles of physiological functions.

Following this surgery, the subjects′ CA was evaluated over a 48-hour period at various time points by assessing the correlation between temporal variations in blood pressure and the middle cerebral artery′s cerebral blood flow velocity. The findings of the study showed that a daily rhythm does exist for stroke patients.

Hence, the long-term goal is to evaluate if the rhythm of CA can be controlled by manipulating an individual`s daily behavioral cycles or endogenous circadian clock in order to deliver more personalized medicine and improve their recovery. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/study-daily-rhythm-detected-for-cerebral-blood-flow-in-stroke-patients/1380826/ )