Vladimir Hachinski

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CM, MD, DSc, FRCPC, FCAHS, FAHA, FAAN, FRSC, Doctor honoris causa x4

Scientist
Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology,
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University;
Distinguished University Professor

Why I Became a Scientist

Dr. Vladimir Hachinski received his MD from the University of Toronto. After completing his residency training at the same university, he undertook a Cerebrovascular Laboratory Fellowship at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases at Queen Square in London, England and a research fellowship at Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He founded, with John W. Norris the world’s first successful acute stroke unit that has become the standard of care and with David Cechetto discovered the key role of the insula of the brain in mediating sudden death. He introduced the concepts of multi-infarct dementia, leukoaraiosis and vascular cognitive impairment and devised the Hachinski ischemic score, (over 4000 citations) that remains the standard for identifying the vascular (treatable) component of cognitive impairment. 

Dr. Hachinski was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Stroke, the leading publication in the field. He introduced 9 international editions and a unique author mentorship program. He has contributed over 1000 scientific papers, book chapters, editorials and other scholarly publications, with over 72,000 citations and rising: 2019: 5,376, 2020: 7,609, 2021: 10,147 (projected) and an h-index of 116. He is the author, co-author or editor or co-editor of 17 books including Stroke: A Comprehensive Guide to Brain Attack, co-authored with his daughter Larissa Hachinski, that was written to increase public awareness of brain attack, a term he coined to drive home the urgency of strokes.

Research Summary

Integral Brain Health Implementation Strategy (IBHIS)

Stroke and dementia account for the majority of disability adjusted life years (DALYS), which is increasing with the global ‘aging population’. The current brain health plans, globally, do not address this issue comprehensively in a low-cost, accessible, effective and long-term way. The Integral Brain Health Implementation Strategy (IBHIS) is both a combined research study and implementation program designed to address this challenge. The study is focused initially on individuals undergoing change (e.g. new employees, expectant parents, employees and their partners)  2 years within retirement, in the St. Joseph’s Health Centre and the London Health Sciences Hospitals.  as they are more likely to adopt change. The prevention stroke and dementia through integral brain health (cerebral, mental and social) have been simplified to 5 simple BASIC-S actions, Blood pressure control, Activity, Sleep, Interacting, Consumption - Synergy (BASIC-S), as they are low cost, effective, accessible and long-term. The impacts of these changes will be measured in the participants an integral Brain Health Index an Integral Brain Health Implementation Index and identification and control of high blood pressure, being the most prevalent, powerful and preventable risk factor for stroke, heart disease and dementia. This simple intervention will be taught to and applied through health professionals and trained lay persons which saves money, training and implementation time, and skips the mobilization of knowledge step.  Proving early success within these populations will help expand IBHIS to more organizations and family practices, the community and disadvantaged populations, and at selected Canadian and international countries: three in Canada, two in Europe, one in Africa, India and one each in Singapore and Hong Kong.


The Ambibaric Brain

We propose a new evolutionary interpretation of the brain’s circulation that has physiological, pathophysiological, and clinical implications. We conclude that the brain circulation contains complementary low-pressure and high-pressure systems that must be kept in balance for optimal brain health.

Kevin Shoemaker is leading a team based on this concept to develop methods to determine “What is the best blood pressure for my brain”. In acute stroke and in prevention of stroke, heart disease and dementia.

Awards and Honours

2024  - The Ryman Prize for “The world’s best discovery, development, advance or achievement that enhances quality of life for older people.”

2022 - The Potamkin Prize for Research in Pick's, Alzheimer's, and Related Dise

2021 - The World Federation of Neurology Medal for Services to World Neurology

2020 - The American Academy of Neurology Wartenberg Lecture & Award

2020 - The 41st T.S. Srinivasan Oration and gold medal and scroll

2020 - FNG Starr Medal of the Canadian Medical Association, “Highest award available to one of its members”

2018 - Killam Prize in Health Sciences, Canadian Council for the Arts

2017 - Canadian Medical Hall of Fame 

2017 - International Prince Mahidol Award Laureate in the Field of Public Health

2016 -  McLaughlin Medal, Royal Society of Canada

2013 - Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

2011 - International BIAL Merit Award in Medical Sciences

2008 - Mihara International Award in Cerebrovascular Diseases

2008 - Member of the Order of Canada

2008 - Premier's Discovery Award in the Life Sciences and Medicine

Publications

View all PubMed publications

  1. Seabrook JA, Avan A, O'Connor C, Prapavessis H, Nagamatsu L, Twynstra J, Stranges S, MacDougall A, Hachinski V. Dietary Patterns and Brain Health in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2025 Apr 24;17(9):1436. doi: 10.3390/nu17091436. PMID: 40362745; PMCID: PMC12073693.
  2. Avan A, Andersen R, Andersson N, Frisbee SJ, Singh S, Zhong S, et al. An operational measurement of brain health: the ABCDS framework. The Lancet Neurology. 2025 Mar 20;24(4):291–2.
  3. Joundi RA, Fang J, Austin PC, Smith EE, Yu AYX, Hachinski V, Sposato LA, Ganesh A, Sharma M, Kapral MK. Magnitude and Time-Course of Dementia Risk in Stroke Survivors: A Population-Wide Matched Cohort Study. Neurology. 2025 Jan 14;104(1):e210131. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000210131. Epub 2024 Dec 4. Erratum in: Neurology. 2025 Apr 22;104(8):e213478. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213478. PMID: 39631038.
  4. Njamnshi AK, Ibanez A, Singh G, Pyykko M, Hachinski V, Eyre HA; Scientific Technical Committee. The Yaoundé Declaration. Lancet Neurol. 2024 Oct;23(10):966-967. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00364-8. Epub 2024 Aug 22. PMID: 39182501.
  5. Avan A, Hachinski V. Increasing risks of dementia and brain health concerns. Lancet Public Health. 2024 Jul;9(7):e414-e415. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00123-3. PMID: 38942548.
  6. Singh S, Goodwin S, Zhong S, Avan A, Rogers K, Hachinski V, Frisbee S. Inequalities in health-related quality of life and functional health of an aging population: A Canadian community perspective. PLoS One. 2024 Jul 5;19(7):e0304457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304457. PMID: 38968188; PMCID: PMC11226017.
  7. Avan A, Nucera A, Stranges S, Rocca WA, Logroscino G, Leonardi M, Raggi A, Hachinski V. Risk and sex-specific trends of dementia and stroke in Italy Compared to European and high-income countries and the world: global implications. J Neurol. 2024 May;271(5):2745-2757. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12216-4. Epub 2024 Feb 23. PMID: 38388926.
  8. Avan A, Hachinski V. Dementia prevention: from idealism to realism. Lancet Neurol. 2024 May;23(5):460. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00133-9. PMID: 38631760.
  9. Singh S, Zhong S, Rogers K, Hachinski V, Frisbee S. Corrigendum: Prioritizing determinants of cognitive function in healthy middle-aged and older adults: insights from a machine learning regression approach in the Canadian longitudinal study on aging. Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 12;12:1372914. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1372914. Erratum for: Front Public Health. 2023 Dec 22;11:1290064. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1290064. PMID: 38410659; PMCID: PMC10896419.
  10. Algahtani H, Shirah B, Hachinski V. Primordial and Primary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke in Saudi Arabia: A Combination Approach and Evolving Concepts. Saudi J Med Med Sci. 2024 Jan-Mar;12(1):1-9. doi: 10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_62_23. Epub 2024 Jan 15. PMID: 38362089; PMCID: PMC10866385.
  11. Oveisgharan S, Ghaffarpasand F, Soros P, Toma M, Sarrafzadegan N, Hachinski V. Brain, heart, and sudden death. Current Journal of Neurology. January 2022. Volume 21, Issue 1;40-51. https://doi.org/10.18502/cjn.v21i1.9361
  12. Hachinski V, The Dementia Prevention/Brain Health Initiative. We are preventing some dementias now—But how? The Potamkin Lecture. Alzheimers Dement. First published: 22 September 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12770
  13. Avan A, Hachinski V. Global, regional, and national trends of dementia incidence and risk factors, 1990–2019: A Global Burden of Disease study. Alzheimers Dement. First published: 31 August 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12764
  14. Hachinski V. The New Brain Age. Neurology. September 13, 2022; 99 (11). First published July 19, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000201059
  15. Hachinski V, Avan A. From Dementia to Eumentia: A New Approach to Dementia Prevention. Neuroepidemiology. 2022 May 25. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35613542. DOI: 10.1159/000525219
  16. Hachinski V, Finger E, Pieruccini-Faria F, Montero-Odasso M. The apathy, gait impairment, and executive dysfunction (AGED) triad vascular variant. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Feb 25. doi: 10.1002/alz.12637. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35213766
  17. Hachinski V; Dementia Prevention Initiative. The comprehensive, customized, cost-effective approach (CCCAP) to prevention of dementia. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Feb 1. doi: 10.1002/alz.12586. Online ahead of print. PMID: 35103397
  18. Hachinski V, Avan A. A new definition of brain reserve. Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Mar;18(3):535-537. doi: 10.1002/alz.12562. Epub 2022 Feb 1.PMID: 35102725
  19. Oveisgharan S, Ghaffarpasand F, Sörös P, Toma M, Sarrafzadegan N, Hachinski V. Brain, heart, and sudden death. Current Journal of Neurology. Review Article. Volume 21, Issue 1 , January 2022, , Pages 40-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.18502/cjn.v21i1.9361

 

G-7 Policy Publications

  1. Hachinski V et al. Integral brain health: the unifying goal for health, productivity and well-being. G7 Canada: The 2025 Kananaskis Summit. The Global Governance Project. Pg 28-29. [in Press]
  2. A) Hachinski V, et al. “Changing the Mindset.” G7 Italy: The Apulia Summit, Gt Media Group Ltd., 2024, Pg 60-61. Web Link: pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=cff88389-941c-40a9-bf3d-76699425a314. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024. B) Changing the Mindset: Brain Health at the Centre and as a Key Agenda Point for Ministries of Health. Prioritizing Brain Health: A Global Imperative for Public Health, G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting – Official Event. Ancona, Italy, 2024 Link: Video: G7 Health Ministers' Meeting Event on ‘Prioritising Brain Health: A Global Imperative for Public Health’ - EANnews
  3. Owolabi M. Hachinski V. From Dementia to “Supermentia”. Kiroton, J. Kickbusch I. The Global Governance Program. The Global Governance Project. 2023, Pg 46-7. Web link: https://www.globalgovernanceproject.org/from-dementia-to-supermentia/vladimir-hachinski/
  4. Hachinski V, Takahashi R. Preventing neurological disorders: are we far-sighted enough. Kirton J, Koch M, The Global Governance Project , editors. G7 Japan The Hiroshima Summit [Internet]. 2023;64–5. Available from: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=01c8ade8-da55-4632-82bc-764351e4e52f
  5. Hachinski V, Alladi S. The Key to All Health. The Global Governance Project , Kirton J, Koch M, editors. G20 Indonesia Bali Summit [Internet]. 2022;68–9. Available from: https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=34a4b81b-86d2-4ab2-83f2-2c105699a46c
  6. Hachinski V, Ganten D. Critical Thinking. Global Health Governance. G7 Germany: The 2022 Elmau Summit. 2022:80-81. https://bit.ly/g7elmau
  7. Hachinski V. Making brain health a global priority. Global Governance Project. G20 Italy: The Rome Summit. 2021:74‑75 G20 Italy, G20 Italy: The 2021 Rome Summit
  8. Hachinski V. Brain Health: Key to health, wealth, and wellbeing. Global Health Governance. G7 UK: The 2021 Cornwall Summit. 2021:42-43. https://www.globalgovernanceproject.org/brain-health-key-to-health-wealth-and-well-being/ 

Contact Info

Email: vladimir.hachinski@lhsc.on.ca
Administrative Assistant: Teresa Ford
Email:  tford25@uwo.ca