Young and old age stroke groups have different vascular risk profiles for cerebral ischemic events. The objective of the study was to describe the risk factor profile and stroke subtype in this population of very elderly people. We included patients over 80 years old with diagnosis of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack registered between June 2003 and June 2006. We described the demographic data and subtype of ischemic stroke. Of 535 patients with cerebrovascular ischemic events, the final diagnosis was stroke in 366 cases and transient ischemic attack in 169. Of these patients 33.5% were over 80 years old (179). The mean age was 84.4 +/- 4.4 years. The most frequent risk factors were: hypertension 82.7%, dyslipemia 40.2% and atrial fibrillation 24.6%. Stroke subtype was: large artery disease 6%, cardioembolic stroke 19.7%, small artery disease 41.7%, and other causes 0.8%. Among traditional risk factors for stroke in our very elderly patients, the most significant were hypertension and dyslipemia. This agrees with previous epidemiological studies. The high incidence of small artery disease in our patients may be explained by the risk factor profile.