Oxford News
Stroke Cognition Calculator could help predict thinking problems after stroke
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care research (NIHR), and led by researchers at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences was published in the Lancet Health Longevity.
Many people experience changes in thinking after stroke. This can include difficulties with memory, attention, language, planning, or decision-making. For some, these problems improve over time. For others, they can last much longer and affect day-to-day life, work, relationships, and independence.
There is no single typical recovery pattern for cognition after stroke and families have reported feeling unprepared for these “invisible” effects when someone leaves hospital.
If clinicians can make an earlier and more informed estimate of who is more likely to have longer-term thinking problems, this could help plan more effective support for patients and families.
A team led by Professor Nele Demeyere have created a prediction tool that uses information already collected during a typical hospital stay, including age, gender, severity of the stroke. alongside results from the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS), a short bedside test of thinking skills carried out soon after the stroke and now widely used across the NHS.
Data was collected on an initial 430 participants in Oxford, with the accuracy of the predictions tested by looking at the development data of the same group after six months.
The Stroke Cognition Calculator was 76% accurate in predicting a patient’s cognitive difficulties six months after their stroke, whereas other tools that have been published for the same purpose had a 53%-66% accuracy rate. These previous tools have focused on predicting a decline in thinking skills, whereas the Stroke Cognition Calculator allows for the fact that after stroke cognition can improve or stay stable, giving a more accurate result.
Further testing on an additional 264 participants recruited from 37 hospitals across England looked at how the calculator would apply to patients in different healthcare settings and showed that accuracy of predictions remained similar at 74%.
This research is a major step toward more personalised care post-stroke. By using routinely available data, the tool would be easy and equitable to implement across different health systems. Used appropriately, a Stroke Cognition Calculator could eventually support clinician’s decision making about a patient’s needs following discharge. This could help patients and families understand what to expect, and help services plan the right support at the right time, while recognising that every recovery is different.
The team hope that this study will pave the way for further testing in a wider range of stroke services and patient groups, ultimately looking at whether use of the calculator can improve care and outcomes for patients and families.
First author Andrea Kusec says: ‘The Cognition Calculator has a lot of potential for everyday clinical use because it uses predictors and risk factors that should be in every stroke patient’s medical records, making it affordable and easy to implement. I hope it will lead to more conversations on supporting long-term cognitive outcomes and dealing with uncertainty about future change in thinking skills in people with stroke and their loved ones.’
Professor Nele Demeyere says: ‘Cognitive difficulties after stroke are common and highly varied but predicting who will continue to struggle has been challenging. What makes this model different is that it incorporates information already collected in routine care using the Oxford Cognitive Screen, which is widely adopted within NHS clinical practice. The next step is to test how these predictions can be used responsibly to improve follow-up and support for patients and families.’
The paper, ‘Multidomain post-stroke cognitive impairment: Development and validation of a clinical prediction model’ is published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity.
The coffee dispenser at the Headington Waitrose is out of order and not for the first time according to reports, leaving customers disappointed they can no longer access their free cappuccino or flat white using their Waitrose card.
The Headington News said: “The Headington Waitrose free coffee machine is out of order again today (Saturday 29 August).”
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The notice on the machine at the store in Old High Street says: “The coffee machine is currently out of order. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The issue is not a universal problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores are working well.
The Waitrose chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, restored its free coffee offer in January 2025.
Following outrage over the withdrawal of the offer during the pandemic, the company told the nine million members on its My Waitrose loyalty scheme they would again be entitled to a complementary americano, cappuccino, latte or tea once a day regardless of whether they bought anything – as long as they have their own reusable cup.
In a statement, Waitrose said at the time: “Some of our My Waitrose members like to have the free coffee before they shop or during the shop, rather than afterwards, so we are just offering a bit of flexibility in response to customer feedback.”
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There were queues at coffee stations and complaints from customers that the offer was attracting the “wrong type of shopper” when Waitrose introduced the perk in 2013.
In 2017, it cracked down on ‘freeloaders’ by forcing members to buy something before pouring themselves a free hot drink.
The scheme was scrapped during the Covid crisis, but reintroduced in November 2022 – again for customers making a purchases. This is no longer a requirement.
Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation after a pigeon was killed in a wildlife crime incident in Plover Drive, Oxford, at around 6.50pm on August 24.
The force said that two teenage boys used a catapult to knock a pigeon from a tree before the bird was attacked by three smaller terrier-type dogs that were with them.
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Descriptions of the two boys have been released with the first described as wearing a black sleeveless vest, dark-coloured bottoms, black trainers with white soles.
In addition he had a black-and-white flat-peaked cap worn backwards and was believed to have been carrying a catapult.
The second was reportedly wearing a light-coloured T-shirt and blue jeans, with brown, medium-length hair.
He was also seen carrying an unidentified item.
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident or who may recognise those involved from the descriptions above.
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“We would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from the Plover Drive area between 6.30pm and 7pm on 24 August that may assist our investigation.
“Wildlife crime has a real impact on our communities, and we take reports of offences against wild animals and birds seriously.
” If you have any information, please contact the force on 101 or report online, quoting reference 43260448136.”
Following the incident in North Way, Barton on Monday, August 17, Thames Valley Police said it wanted the public’s help to locate Oxford local Arthur McDonagh.
The force warned the public not to approach the 33-year-old, but instead to call the police if they see him.
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On Tuesday, August 18, a spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help to locate Arthur McDonagh, aged 33, from Oxford.
“He is wanted in connection with a serious assault that happened in North Way, Barton, yesterday (August 17).
“Arthur is known to frequent the Garsington area.
“If you have any information about his whereabouts call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260426989.
“If you see him, do not approach him, but instead call 999.”
Well over a week on, the police has revealed that Mr McDonagh remains at large.
The spokesperson said today (Saturday, August 29): “Arthur McDonagh remains outstanding; our enquiries are ongoing to locate him.”
During the incident emergency services were called to Barton Village Road at about 11.10am.
The force closed North Way to the junction with Edgecombe Road while officers carried out their enquiries.
A damaged white pickup truck was left in the middle of the street, surrounded by broken glass and with what appeared to be blood splattered on the rear right-hand side.
The white pickup truck could be seen behind the police cordon.
There were multiple reports of different weapons being used during the assault, but Thames Valley Police confirmed that they do not believe an axe, bat or machete were used in the attack.
But police declined to say what weapon they do believe was used in the assault.
The force confirmed a man was taken to hospital for treatment, and that he was in a stable condition, and they thanked the local community for their support.
Following the incident, Mike Rowley, Labour councillor for Barton and Sandhills, said his thoughts were with the victim and praised local officers for their response.
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He said: “My thoughts are with the victim as the incident sounds horrible.
“I am in touch with the police, but I’m not expecting any updates yet as their priority is finding the offender and making sure there aren’t any further offences.”
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
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