The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for determining characteristics of cerebral ischemia based on magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging, so as to provide a more objective basis for determining whether an acute cerebral ischemia patient should be treated with thrombolysis. The method comprises: determining a cerebral ischemia region of a patient based on magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging of the patient, wherein the cerebral ischemia region comprises a core region and a transition region； determining an apparent diffusion coefficient ADC characteristic parameter ADCr in a region with high DWI values in the magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging according to diffusion weighted image DWI values in the core region and transition region； and judging whether ADC values in the region with high DWI values and the region with high DWI values are mismatched according to the ADC characteristic parameter ADCr. The method according to embodiments of the present invention provides a more scientific and objective basis for making a decision on whether the acute cerebral ischemia patient should be treated with thrombolysis, thereby improving a cure rate of the cerebral ischemia patient.
