Dr. Einor Ben Assayag
Our group focus is in neuro-psychiatric complications after stroke. Stroke survivors are at high risk of developing a wide range of psychiatric symptoms: depression, anxiety, dementia and stress-related symptoms, which contribute significantly to poor recovery. We conduct both translational and interventional clinical studies, in search for prodromal biomarkers for vulnerability to develop post-stroke dementia and affective deterioration, as well as novel therapeutic options. In the last two years, we have founded a pioneer proof-of-concept trial funded by the Alzheimer's Association and the Gates Foundation. In this multi-center(five stroke centers in Israel) Phase-II trial we are investigating the potential of the licensed drug Maraviroc, a CCR5-antagonist, in preventing progression to vascular dementia. We investigate the hypothesis that blocking CCR5 modulate signaling cascades implicated in memory and in depression. Recently, we have initiated another two interventional studies investigating Maraviroc in post-stroke depression (funding:Ministry of Health) and in major depression (funding:Ministry of Science).
Behavioral Neuroscience
Clinical Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience
- Ben Assayag E, Tene O, Korczyn AD, Solomon Z, Bornstein NM, Shenhar-Tsarfaty S, Seyman E, Niry D, Molad J, Hallevi H. Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms After Stroke: The Effects of Anatomy and Coping Style. Stroke. 2022;53(6):1924-33.
- Ben Assayag E (Assayag EB), Molad J, Seyman E, Rotschild O, Zeltzer E, Sadeh-Gonik U, Bregman N, Alpernas A, Segal Y, Bashat DB, Nathan T, Hawwari M, Tene O, Hallevi H. Preventing post-stroke dementia. The MARCH Trial. Protocol and statistical analysis plan of a randomized clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of Maraviroc in post-stroke cognitive impairment. Eur Stroke J. 2022;7(3):314-22.
- Molad J, Hallevi H, Seyman E, Rotschild O, Bornstein NM, Tene O, Giladi N, Hausdorff JM, Mirelman A, Ben Assayag E. CCR5-Δ32 polymorphism - a possible protective factor from gait impairment among post-stroke patients. Eur J Neurol. 2022 Nov 15.
- Joy MT, Ben Assayag E, Shabashov-Stone D, Liraz-Zaltsman S, Mazzitelli J, Arenas M, Abduljawad N, Kliper E, Korczyn AD, Thareja NS, Kesner EL, Zhou M, Huang S, Silva TK, Katz N, Bornstein NM, Silva AJ, Shohami E, Carmichael ST. CCR5 Is a Therapeutic Target for Recovery after Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury. Cell. 2019;176(5):1143-1157.e13.
- Tene O, Hallevi H, Korczyn AD, Shopin L, Molad J, Kirschbaum C, Bornstein NM, Shenhar-Tsarfaty S, Kliper E, Auriel E, Usher S, Stalder T, Ben Assayag E. The Price of Stress: High Bedtime Salivary Cortisol Levels Are Associated with Brain Atrophy and Cognitive Decline in Stroke Survivors. Results from the TABASCO Prospective Cohort Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;65(4):1365-75.
