From lived experience to prevention and policy alignment, UMBRELLA highlights three dimensions of stroke care during Brain Awareness Week.
Each year, Brain Awareness Week draws attention to the importance of brain health and the role of research and innovation in tackling neurological conditions. For UMBRELLA, this global campaign once again provided a platform to reflect on one of Europe’s leading causes of death and disability: stroke.
Stroke remains a major public health challenge worldwide. In Europe alone, more than one million new stroke cases occur each year, and nearly ten million people are living with the consequences of stroke. These numbers continue to rise due to an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary lifestyles.
For the second consecutive year, UMBRELLA joined the campaign focusing on the human, scientific and policy dimensions of stroke. The project, which brings together a wide range of stakeholders across Europe, aims to improve how stroke is prevented, detected and managed, working towards a future where every stroke patient in Europe receives timely, accurate and personalised care.
Relearning life after stroke: Grethe Lunde’s journey
A key moment of this year’s campaign from UMBRELLA was the launch of the first patient interview, featuring stroke survivor Grethe Lunde. In her testimony, she reflects on her personal journey and the long-term realities of living with stroke. Her message is clear and widely recognised in medical practice: faster response times can significantly improve outcomes.
Lunde also draws attention to an often-overlooked distinction: being a patient is limited to time spent in hospital, while being a survivor is a lifelong experience. This perspective highlights the need for care pathways that extend beyond emergency treatment, addressing rehabilitation, long-term support and quality of life after discharge.
Turning prevention into everyday action
Advances in stroke care are not only about technology or data, but about improving everyday life for those affected. Across Europe, hundreds of thousands of people experience a stroke each year, yet many cases could be prevented. Managing risk factors, adopting healthier lifestyles and recognising early warning signs all play a crucial role in reducing long-term disability.
To support this message, UMBRELLA shared a short video during the week focusing on modifiable risk factors. The aim was to raise awareness of the small but meaningful actions individuals can take to lower their risk of a stroke.
Why collaboration matters in stroke care
The campaign also highlighted the updated Stroke Action Plan for Europe, led by UMBRELLA partner Stroke Alliance for Europe in collaboration with European Stroke Organisation. The plan sets out key priorities to strengthen prevention, improve care and support life after stroke, offering a structured framework for coordinated action at both national and European levels.
This alignment between research, policy and lived experience reflects a growing recognition that no single actor can address limitation ins stroke management alone. By bringing these elements together, Brain Awareness Week reinforces the need for collective efforts to reduce the burden of stroke across Europe.
Initiatives such as UMBRELLA demonstrate how this can be achieved in practice. As a multi‑stakeholder project with more than 20 public and private organisations, UMBRELLA is bridging science, innovation and human experience, to contribute to a shared objective: keeping people, prevention and brain health at the centre of stroke action.
