09/04/2026
RUSH Researchers compared brain scans at diagnosis and after 24 and 72 hours, to examine changes in swelling volume. This was linked with reports of death or dependency at 90 days. They found the likelihood of death or dependence increased by four per cent for each 1ml increase in swelling during the first 24 hours, and by two per cent for each 1ml of swelling in the 72 hours after onset. Understanding the pathways and mechanisms that lead to brain swelling could help to identify potential drug targets, opening new possibilities for treatments, experts say. A future trial will test potential drugs that could modify swelling during the early stages of brain heamorrhage, targeting inflammatory pathways which could enhance protective responses or inhibit harmful ones.
The study was funded by the Stroke Association and British Heart Foundation and was publicised by Neshika Samarasekera and one of the members of our Patient Representative Group, Pete White on STV news on 8 April 2026. You can watch the video at
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have found that swelling in the days following this kind of stroke is linked to a higher risk of death and disability
