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Neuroscience Program

Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke in Children

Lori C. Jordan, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Division of Pediatric Neurology
Doctors’ Office Tower (DOT) 11-242
615-343-2011 (office)
lori.jordan@vanderbilt.edu

Lori Jordan MD, PhD is Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics.  Dr. Jordan’s clinical research program focuses on hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in children.  Stroke is as common as brain tumor in children but is vastly understudied.  Children who suffer a stroke in childhood have decades to live with their neurological deficits, and typical motor and cognitive development is often disrupted.

Predictors of Recovery from Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Children

This is the first prospective study of intracerebral hemorrhage (also called hemorrhagic stroke) in children with detailed neurological follow-up of at least 12 months after stroke.  All children, other than very premature babies, with non-traumatic brain hemorrhage may join the study.
We are investigating predictors of good recovery as well as poor neurological outcome.  The goal is to find targets for intervention and treatment.  This study involves detailed volumetric analysis of hemorrhage size and location.

Ischemic Brain Injury and Cognitive Impairment in Adolescents and Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

Adolescents and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) have multiple risk factors for neurological and cognitive impairment including genetic causes and brain injury.  Stroke and brain injury are often clinically “silent” in the sense that they do not cause overt signs of stroke, though they may cause cognitive impairment.  We are assessing the prevalence of ischemic brain injury in adolescents and young adults with surgically treated CHD as well as the impact of brain injury on cognition and behavior.

There are also a number of collaborative projects between Neurology and Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery retrospectively studying aspects of cognitive function, cerebrovascular disease, and ischemic brain injury in adolescents and young adults with CHD.