Aims:
Hidden consequences of stroke, such as low mood, fatigue and cognitive difficulties, affect over half of young stroke survivors; yet age-relevant, accessible information is lacking. Our study aimed to co-design a tailored psychoeducation package addressing hidden challenges in young adult stroke survivors (aged 18-45 years).

Content:
Focus groups or interviews were conducted iteratively across two phases with young stroke survivors, family members and clinicians. In the first phase, they were asked about their preferences for the delivery modalities (e.g., tip sheets, podcasts) and topics (e.g., mood, memory difficulties) that should be included in the package. Prototypes of the preferred resources were then developed. In the second phase, participants provided their feedback and perspectives on the prototypes. Discussions were recorded and transcribed, and analysed using framework analysis.

Participants included 14 young stroke survivors (median age-at-time-of-stroke 35 years; median time-since-stroke 4.5 years), three family members and 12 multidisciplinary clinicians. Six young stroke survivors had aphasia. Tip sheets, short videos, podcasts and virtual information sessions were the preferred delivery modalities. Preferred topics were fatigue; brain fog; feeling overwhelmed; grief and loss; finding meaning, enjoyment and hope; and sex and intimacy. Participants preferred that the resources use young survivors’ own terminology, such as “brain fog” rather than “cognitive difficulties”. They liked the use of simple language, icons, graphics, and clear explanations.

Findings highlight the importance of accessible, meaningful content which should reflect the language used by the young stroke community, and delivery modes that will engage young stroke survivors and their families. These principles have guided the development of the full psychoeducation package. A second study is about to commence to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of the package.

Goals:
The goals of this work were to embed an authentic co-design process into the development of a tailored psychoeducation package. Our research team includes two survivors of stroke as well as multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers. Listening to the voices of diverse stakeholders has resulted in a comprehensive set of resources that can meet the needs and preferences of young stroke survivors experiencing cognitive and psychological challenges.

Aim
This presentation aims to: (1) examine the impact of a Neuropsychological Assessment Hub for young adult stroke survivors, and (2) evaluate the comprehensibility and usability of the co-designed feedback summary letters provided to young stroke survivors (YSS) who underwent neuropsychological assessment in the Young Stroke Service.

Content
Despite the high prevalence of cognitive difficulties after stroke, cognitive function is often overlooked in YSS, with rehabilitation tending to focus on functional capacity. To address unmet cognitive needs, a Neuropsychology Assessment Hub was established as part of the Young Stroke Service, which aims to address unmet needs through a range of targeted rehabilitation services.

Additionally, typical neuropsychology reports are not accessible for people with cognitive and/or communication impairments. While a neuropsychology competency framework exists for verbal feedback delivery, there are no guidelines available for written summary letters. Therefore, accessible feedback summary letters were co-produced with YSS and expert clinicians, and the comprehensibility and usability of these letters were examined.

This presentation will describe the findings from a qualitative evaluation of the impact of the Neuropsychology Assessment Hub for YSS, and the comprehensibility and usability of the co-designed feedback letters YSS received. Eleven YSS who underwent a neuropsychology assessment participated in a semi-structured interview. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts, with data analysis currently in the final stages.

Overall, YSS commonly reported that the neuropsychology assessment was a positive experience, stating that they felt safe and supported, and their concerns were heard and understood by the clinician. Despite describing the assessment session length to be appropriate, some participants felt that cognitive testing was tedious and long. Neuropsychology assessments nonetheless helped build awareness of cognitive strengths and challenges, and confidence to manage any difficulties. Most participants felt that the results matched their day-to-day experiences, though some stated that the results of the assessment underestimated their difficulties in daily life. The feedback summary letter met participants needs. Participants found the letter to be clear and tailored, with clear subheadings, plain language, appropriate icons and graphical representations of the results.

Implications for clinical practice will be discussed, including ways of tailoring neuropsychology assessments and feedback letters to suit the needs of YSS.

Goals
1. To highlight the impact of neuropsychological assessments for YSS
2. Demonstrate the value of accessible, co-designed neuropsychological feedback letters
3. Discuss practical strategies for improving the accessibility and impact of neuropsychological assessment and feedback

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative condition characterised by progressive motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric decline. Cognitive changes often emerge early, significantly impact daily functioning, and are a primary concern for people with HD and their families. Despite this, no targeted cognitive interventions currently exist for HD.

This presentation describes the two-phase development and pilot evaluation of Navigating Huntington’s Disease, a novel group cognitive rehabilitation program for people with early-stage HD.

Phase 1 involved community consultation through semi-structured interviews with 15 individuals with lived experience of HD, including people with early-stage HD, those at genetic risk of developing HD, and family members, alongside three focus groups with a total of 12 HD-specialised clinicians. Reflexive thematic analysis identified a range of priorities that shaped the program's content, structure, and format. Key among these, clinicians emphasised the importance of addressing cognition within the broader context of living with HD, and highlighted the need for an intervention that feels relevant and meaningful to people and families affected by HD. People with lived experience described wanting to connect with others who understand the HD experience, and expressed a strong desire to do something proactive for themselves rather than feel passive in the face of HD. Cognitive fatigue, emotion regulation, and executive functioning were identified as key concerns, with the interplay between cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms seen as particularly important to address. Together, these insights pointed toward an intervention that was holistic, community-oriented, and grounded in the realities of living with HD.

Phase 2 involved the development and pilot testing of a four-session, 90-minute weekly group intervention integrating psychoeducation, strategy training, and group discussion. The program focuses on understanding HD-related cognitive and emotional changes, managing cognitive fatigue, supporting emotion regulation, and using planning strategies to navigate everyday demands.

The pilot (5–7 participants) is currently underway and will be completed by April 2026. Primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability, assessed through retention rates, a post-intervention evaluation questionnaire, and facilitator logs. Exploratory secondary outcomes include strategy usage, mood, self-confidence, and quality of life. Post-intervention interviews with participants, and optionally family members, will explore perceived changes in cognition, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.

Preliminary findings will be presented. These will be discussed in terms of the program's potential for larger trials, and what this work suggests about the role neuropsychologists can play in developing and delivering community-informed cognitive rehabilitation for people with neurodegenerative conditions.