CompletedObservational

Understanding cognitive decline after stroke and the impact of COVID-19

Many people who have had a stroke worry about long-term changes to their memory and thinking skills. While stroke and dementia are closely linked, they have often been studied as separate conditions. This observational UK study follows adults who have had any type of stroke or mini-stroke (TIA) to understand who develops memory difficulties, why it happens, and how to stop it. Researchers will collect health details, check your memory and mood, look at your routine hospital brain scans, and study the impact of COVID-19 on recovery. Follow-up checks take place at six weeks, and then once a year by post or phone for at least two years. There is also an optional extra brain scan. By taking part, you help scientists design better future treatments to protect memory and brain health after a stroke.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

Academic and Clinical Central Office for Research and Development (ACCORD)

Enrolment target

2,000

Start

25 Sep 2018

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2022

Stroke

What is this study about?

Having a stroke or mini-stroke (transient ischaemic attack, or TIA) is a frightening experience. During recovery, one of the most common worries people share is how the stroke might affect their memory, concentration, and ability to think clearly. Although stroke and dementia are both caused by problems with the brain's blood vessels, medical researchers have traditionally studied them apart from one another. This project brings experts in both fields together to look at the whole picture.

Researchers want to answer three big questions: which stroke survivors are most at risk of memory problems, what changes happen inside the brain's blood vessels to cause this, and how can doctors prevent or treat these problems early? Because the coronavirus pandemic has affected so many people, the team is also investigating whether having COVID-19 changes a person's recovery or raises their risk of memory loss after a stroke.

By following stroke patients over several years, the study hopes to spot early warning signs of memory decline. In the future, this could help doctors prescribe targeted treatments sooner, helping people keep their independence and protecting their brain health for years to come.

Key takeaways

Looks at how strokes and mini-strokes affect memory, thinking, and long-term brain health.
Investigates the potential effects of COVID-19 on stroke recovery.
Open to adults of all ages who have had a stroke or mini-stroke.
Involves memory tasks, routine scan reviews, and yearly updates by post or phone for at least two years.
Does not involve experimental drugs; your normal NHS stroke treatment remains unchanged.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to adults aged 18 and older who have been admitted to a participating hospital with any type of stroke or a mini-stroke (TIA). There is no upper age limit, and people with strokes of any severity can take part. Having memory difficulties or dementia before your stroke does not rule you out from joining.

To take part in the main study, patients must generally have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks following their stroke. However, you cannot take part if your symptoms were caused by head trauma, a burst brain aneurysm, or non-stroke conditions such as a brain tumour.

If you choose to join an optional part of the study involving an extra MRI brain scan at six weeks, you will need to be able to give your own consent and have no metal implants or health conditions that make an MRI scan unsafe.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am aged 18 or over.
I have recently had a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA) and was seen at a participating hospital.
My stroke was not caused by an accident, head injury, or burst brain aneurysm.
I am willing to complete gentle thinking and memory tasks during my recovery.
I am happy to be contacted by phone or post once a year for follow-up reviews.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Taking part does not involve testing any new medicines, and your normal NHS stroke treatment will continue as usual. At the start, the research team will ask you about your background, medical history, and daily life. They will guide you through some gentle memory and thinking tasks, and with your permission, they may ask a close family member or friend about how you are managing.

The team will review the brain scans and blood tests already done by your hospital doctors, and they may ask for a small additional blood sample for genetic research. About six weeks after your stroke, you will have a follow-up review, and you might be offered an optional detailed MRI brain scan. After that, the team will stay in touch once a year—usually by post or a phone call—for at least two years to see how your thinking skills and recovery are going.

Potential risks and benefits

You may not benefit directly from joining, but you will receive more thorough assessments of your memory, thinking, and mood than standard hospital care usually provides. With your agreement, these results can be shared with your GP or stroke team to help your ongoing care. You may also get early opportunities to join future clinical trials for new treatments. The main downside is that the extra questions and memory checks take time and can feel tiring when you are recovering from a stroke. Taking part is entirely voluntary, and you are free to stop at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (10)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences
City only
Edinburgh, Scotland
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
City only
Glasgow, Scotland
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
Nottingham, England
Salford Royal NHS Trust
City only
Salford, England
University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
City only
London, England
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
Unverified
Cambridge, England
University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust
Unverified
Leicester, England
Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Unverified
Preston, England
Kings College Hospital NHS Trust
Unverified
London, England
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Unverified
Oxford, England

Common questions

Will I have to take any experimental drugs?

No. This is an observational study, which means researchers only observe your recovery, review your tests, and check your memory. You will continue your normal medicines.

Do I have to travel to the hospital for every check-up?

No. Aside from hospital assessments around the time of your stroke and at six weeks, most follow-up checks are done simply by post or over the telephone.

What if the memory tests make me feel too tired?

The research team knows stroke fatigue is very common. The tests are designed to be flexible, and you can take breaks, do shorter versions, or pause whenever you need to.

Do I have to agree to the extra brain scan?

No. The additional MRI scan at six weeks is completely optional. You can say no to the scan and still take part in all other parts of the study.

Can I take part if I already had memory problems before my stroke?

Yes. People who had memory issues or mild dementia before their stroke are very welcome to join, as this helps researchers understand brain health across all backgrounds.

How to find out more

Joanna Wardlaw

joanna.wardlaw@ed.ac.uk +44 (0)131 332 2943 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.