Cognition and Neocortical Volume After Stroke (CANVAS) Study

This landmark study is now complete, but analyses continue. Stroke survivors and healthy controls had MRI scans and cognitive assessment within a few weeks of stroke events, and again at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years. By comparing their results with healthy, age-matched controls (with no history of stroke or dementia) we have found that brain volume change is greater in people after stroke, especially those with cognitive impairment. We continue to elucidate potential causal mechanisms including genetic markers, amyloid deposition, and cardiovascular risk factors, including via collaborations with the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (hosted in Melbourne in March 2023), and the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Stroke Recovery Group. These data are being shared with many international researchers to better understand the determinants of post-stroke cognitive impairment, and are available for Masters and PhD projects.