Early in the 20th century, most of the treatments for stroke patients are limited to rehabilitation after an acute stroke, and most patients are usually left with permanent and severe deficits.[1] In the 1950s new techniques and therapies are developed to explore and modify the internal processes of cerebrovascular disease.[2] In the 1960s carotid endarterectomy is greatly improved but is used mostly for stroke prevention and there is still no effective treatment after an acute stroke. In the 1970s aspirin is found to be very effective in stroke prevention. In the 1980s cigarette smoking is found to be a definite risk factor for stroke, and smoking cessation programs become very important.