In Reply With respect to the results of the Intensive Statin and Antiplatelet Therapy for High-Risk Intracranial or Extracranial Atherosclerosis (INSPIRES) study, we did not deny the efficacy of initiating intensive statin therapy for atherosclerotic stroke early after onset; rather, we suggested that it may be potentially associated with short-term functional improvement. Similar to the field of cardiovascular disease, previous studies supported that the benefit of early statin therapy in reducing cardiovascular events may be due to its long-term application. However, brain cell damage is severe in the early poststroke period, and the multiple cytoprotective effects of statins may rescue cells in ischemic penumbra and improve prognosis. Preclinical studies have shown that statins given immediately after stroke can reduce the size of the infarct and improve neurological outcomes. Clinical studies have suggested that early poststroke application of intensive statin may be associated with good functional outcome and low mortality. Therefore, this INSPIRES study focused on whether initiating a short-term 90-day intensive statin within 72 hours after onset could improve cardiovascular events and neurological function.