Predicting Cognitive Development in Younger Stroke Patients Using the Oxford Cognitive Screen

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) can be used as a predictive tool during hospital admission in younger (<65 years) stroke patients, i.e. whether OCS is able to predict the level of cognitive functioning in these patients at 3- and 9-months post-stroke. Secondarily the investigators also want to examine the relationship between OCS scores and the patients' self-report regarding general level of functioning, and if there is a significant development in cognitive level over time by comparing OCS-scores at the different time points. The investigators predict that: a) Baseline OCS-score collected in the sub-acute phase during hospital admission will be helpful in predicting future level of cognitive functioning and level of general functioning: a low score at baseline will be associated with a relatively low score on the supplementary cognitive tests at 3- and 9-months post-stroke and a lower level of general functioning, and vice versa. B) Adding background information to the baseline data of the patients will improve the prediction regarding the future cognitive and general level of functioning. C) At 3- and 9-months post stroke we expect there to be a correlation between OCS-score and the patient's self-report of general functioning, where a low score on OCS will equal self-reports of low general functioning. D) The investigators expect to see significant differences in OCS-scores at different time points indicative of cognitive remission.

Inclusion Criteria:Patients must 1) be diagnosed with stroke, 2) have NIHSS on admission ≥ 2, 3) have findings on imaging confirming stroke, 4) be aged ≥ 18 < 65, 5) achieve a score below cutoff in at least one partial assignment measured with OCS, 6) be capable of giving informed consent, 7) is able to communicate confidently in Danish.Exclusion Criteria:Patients will be excluded if they 1) have a premorbid neurological illness that currently affect cognitive functions, 2) are delirious or suspected to be delirious at the time of baseline testing, 3) have a current or previously diagnosed brain tumor, 4) have a comorbid oncological illness that affect brain functions, 5) have reported alcohol abuse, 6) have a comorbid psychiatric disease necessitating treatment simultaneously with admission due to stroke.