Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with over 1.3 million stroke survivors currently living in the UK. While acute stroke care has improved, survivors often face long-term challenges including recurrent stroke, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, fatigue, malnutrition, and sarcopenia. These complications can significantly impact quality of life and increase demands on carers and healthcare services.
There is growing interest in the role of diet and physical activity in supporting recovery and reducing the risk of secondary complications following stroke. However, current clinical guidelines for stroke survivors provide limited detail on specific dietary or activity recommendations. Robust, stroke-specific evidence is needed to support more tailored and effective guidance.
Research questions:
Are specific dietary patterns or diet quality associated with the risk of recurrent stroke in stroke survivors?
How are dietary patterns and diet quality associated with cognitive function and cognitive decline over time in individuals with a history of stroke?
Are dietary patterns and diet quality associated with the presence of post-stroke depression, anxiety, and fatigue?
Is diet quality associated with the risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition in stroke survivors?
Does physical activity independently or jointly with diet influence the risk of recurrent stroke, cognitive decline, mental health symptoms, and sarcopenia in stroke survivors?