Around 11000 Norwegians suffer stroke every year and about half of these suffer cognitive impairment of various degrees as a result. There are complex reasons as to why so many suffer cognitive impairment. The Nor-COAST study was therefore started by a group of Norwegian researchers. In 2015 the study received 9 million NOK from the Norwegian Health Association's dementia research programme to perform a study where five Norwegian hospitals participate.

Included were 815 patients admitted with acute stroke at St Olav's Hospital, Ålesund hospital, Haukeland hospital, Western Viken Bærum and Oslo University Hospital Ullevål. The patients were followed up after 3, 18 and 36 months with a wide survey of cognitive and physical function, physical activity, medication use, MR-examination of the brain and blood tests. Data collection was completed in March of 2020.

The research in Nor-COAST looks at various issues such as incidence of cognitive impairment after stroke, symptoms and how to diagnose. We also study the development over the three first years after stroke, as well as health services and costs these years. We further survey whether medication treatment after stroke affects the development of cognitive impairment. We also research underlying causes such as physical activity, inflammation and imaging diagnostics.