Published in Neurology, the study analyzed data from over 2,600 stroke survivors across 12 studies in 10 countries—including Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe and the US—as part of the global Stroke and Cognition Consortium (STROKOG).

The team found that a combination of simple factors—including age, sex, education, stroke severity, diabetes and history of prior stroke—can reliably estimate a person’s risk of developing dementia within five years of a stroke.

Lead author Jess Lo, Research Associate from CHeBA, said the tool fills a crucial gap in stroke care.

“Up to 60% of stroke survivors experience some degree of cognitive impairment within the first year after stroke, and nearly one in three will go on to develop dementia within five years,” said Lo.