Scientists to investigate new test to prevent stroke

An illustration showing atherosclerosis - blockage of the artery caused by a buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque. When plaque breaks off and enters the brain, it can cause a clot leading to stroke Scientists at the University of Oxford will investigate a new way to identify people who might be at high risk of stroke. Dr Luca Biasiolli at the university has been backed by the British Heart Foundation to study whether a new MRI scanning technique could be used to spot the potentially dangerous plaques that cause stroke. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off. Most occur as a consequence of plaque - a condition called atherosclerosis - building up in arteries in the neck. If a piece of this plaque breaks off, it can lead to a clot forming in the brain and cause a stroke. If successful, this new test will provide doctors with a better tool for making decisions about treatments that could save someone's life. Dr Luca Biasiolli, University of Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research - In the UK there are around 240,000 hospital episodes attributed to stroke every year, causing around 40,000 deaths.