Biological basis for statin therapy in stroke prevention.

Hypercholesterolemia has not been considered an important risk factor for stroke; however, statin therapy reduces stroke in coronary heart disease patients. Statins may provide cerebrovascular protection through various mechanisms that include a reduction in the incidence of embolic stroke from cardiac, aortic and carotid sites, stabilization of vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and improvement in cerebral blood flow.