Stroke and Ageing

Overview & Synopsis

Stroke remains a leading global cause of death and long-term disability, affecting approximately 15 million people each year. Older adults, representing 75% of stroke incidents, often experience more severe outcomes due to higher rates of comorbid conditions. While incidence rates are declining in many high-income countries, the absolute number of strokes continues to rise worldwide due to population ageing and improved survival. There is a growing need for evidence-based, multidisciplinary community-focused interventions to support stroke recovery in older populations, yet much of the current research has been limited to high-income settings. Advances in technology offer new opportunities for extending care and rehabilitation beyond hospital settings. The Special Issue “Stroke and Ageing” brings together ten articles from Australia, China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, covering a broad spectrum of healthcare challenges and innovations in post-stroke care. These contributions support a person-centred, lifespan-oriented approach to stroke management, with studies focused on physical rehabilitation, mental health, secondary prevention, technology-supported care, and end-of-life planning. Together, they offer insights into scalable, integrated solutions tailored to the diverse needs of older stroke survivors across different health systems.