The renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) has been implicated in the pathogenesisof cerebrovascular diseases. During the past decades, AU: INCLUDE A NUMBER?RAAS has gained attention as an important therapeutic target in cardiovascular medicine.Modulation of the RAAS for primary and secondary stroke prevention seems an appealingstrategy. Several experimental studies have showed that pre-treatment with RAAS inhibitorsprior to the initiation of ischemia exerts favorable effects on infarct volume, brainedema, and cerebral blood flow in the marginal zone. Furthermore, the activation ofangiotensin receptor type 2 has been associated with neuroprotective effects. Accumulatingevidence based on recent clinical trials indicate that blockade of RAAS has a potentialrole in stroke prevention. This review summarizes the pathophysiological aspects of brainRAAS and its constituents, presents experimental data on the neuroprotective actions ofRAAS inhibitors and available evidence regarding their effects on stroke risk, and discussfuture directions for research.