Stroke in the news: January 2026
Some major stories about stroke have been appearing in the news over the last few weeks – here is our helpful digest!
Some major stories about stroke have been appearing in the news over the last few weeks – from promising new medical research through to worrying new data that shows how the NHS is struggling to provide timely treatment to stroke patients because of the lack of specialist doctors.
Concerns are being expressed too about the lack of funding for research into the causes and treatment of strokes, particularly when compared with other major health conditions.
In this edition, there is also some really helpful information on how to reduce your chances of having a stroke, and an excellent piece tracking the challenges many stroke-affected people face on their recovery journey.
Simple tool predicts who is most at risk of dementia after stroke
A new international study led by researchers from UNSW Sydney's Center for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA) has developed the first practical, five-year dementia risk prediction tool for stroke survivors—using only information that's routinely collected in hospitals and clinics.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-simple-tool-dementia.html#google_vignette
Four risk factors linked to 99% of strokes, study finds
Nearly all strokes and heart attacks follow one of four risk factors, new research shows.
These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and tobacco smoking, whether past or current.
https://nrtimes.co.uk/four-risk-factors-linked-to-99-of-strokes-study-finds-stroke25/
Scientists discover how stem cells navigate and repair brain damage after stroke
"It opens a promising future for cell therapy to help the millions of people that suffer from stroke and other devastating neurological conditions."
Stroke: Symptoms, causes and treatments
The Stroke Association found that death rates from strokes have halved in the last three decades thanks, in part, to life saving research.
That said, funding for research is still low compared to that for cancer; 1.2% of research budgets is spent on stroke research, and 14.8% on cancer. This is not proportionate to the number of people affected – 1.3 million people in the UK are living with the effects of a stroke while 2.5 million are living with cancer.
https://www.carehome.co.uk/advice/stroke-prevalence-effects-and-treatments
Shortage of NHS stroke specialists resulting in thousands dead or disabled, say doctors
“When services are understaffed, patients miss treatment windows altogether or are treated too late, resulting in far worse neurological outcomes that could have been prevented … Delays in specialist assessment or transfer to a thrombectomy centre can mean the difference between independent recovery and devastating, lifelong disability – or not surviving at all.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/05/nhs-shortage-stroke-specialists
World Health Organisation: the key facts of stroke
The lifetime risk of stroke has increased by 50 % over the past 20 years, with 1 in 4 adults predicted to experience a stroke in their lifetime.
Most of the stroke burden is attributable to 10 modifiable risk factors, including high blood pressure, air pollution, smoking, high LDL cholesterol, diet high in sodium, high fasting blood glucose, kidney dysfunction, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/stroke
Life after stroke - the hidden struggle for recovery
Six months after a stroke, 64% of survivors still have problems carrying out usual activities, 47% report anxiety or depression and 62% struggle with mobility. This pattern has been documented repeatedly in national datasets, including the UK’s Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, which also found that only 35.1% of eligible survivors received a six-month follow-up.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/dec/analysis-life-after-stroke-hidden-struggle-recovery
How to prevent stroke: new research and treatments
Stroke expert Professor Salman explains how research could help us treat and prevent strokes through healthier lifestyles and better medicines, surgeries and therapies to help the brain repair itself.
Your Blood Type Affects Your Risk of Early Stroke, Study Reveals
Research suggests a surprising link between blood type and stroke risk, with people carrying one specific group A blood type facing a higher likelihood of stroke before age 60.
https://www.sciencealert.com/your-blood-type-affects-your-risk-of-early-stroke-study-reveals
Heavy energy drink intake may pose serious stroke risk, doctors warn
Downing several strong energy drinks every day may pose a serious stroke risk, doctors have warned in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after treating an otherwise fit and healthy man in his 50s with a daily 8-can habit and exceedingly high blood pressure.
https://bmjgroup.com/heavy-energy-drink-intake-may-pose-serious-stroke-risk-doctors-warn/
Project uses online games to help stroke recovery
Bernie Kielty, 74, from Whimple, Devon, has worked with academics for over a year using a bespoke online game to improve his mobility after a stroke six years ago left him unable to "use anything on my left-hand side".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2l0d3d028o
Photo by Sean Robbins on Unsplash
