Stroke is a major contributor to death and disability globally, and its burden will increase dramatically with ageing populations. While advances in acute stroke care have improved survival, the long‑term cognitive, functional, and quality‑of‑life outcomes of stroke survivors remain incompletely understood, particularly in low‑ and middle‑income countries.
The Prospective Global Platform to Evaluate and Enhance Cognitive and Functional Trajectories after Stroke (PROSPECT) study aims to better understand how people recover after stroke. Led by scientist Raed Joundi and senior scientist Mike Sharma, the international study is enrolling up to 10,000 adults aged 18 or older within 16 weeks of having an ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage. Participants are being recruited from 11 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East
Researchers will follow participants for up to five years to track how recovery changes over time and to understand why some people recover better than others. The study focuses on cognitive health, physical function, and quality of life after stroke.
Researchers will also examine other important outcomes, including depression, fatigue, recurrent stroke, cardiovascular events, and death.
In addition to collecting long-term data, PROSPECT will serve as a platform for future studies and clinical trials aimed at improving stroke care and recovery.
