Researchers at the University of Oxford are developing a simpler and more accurate MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanning technique to spot the potentially dangerous plaques that cause stroke, according to a press release published Monday by the university.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Most occur as a consequence of plaque building up in arteries in the neck, which is a condition called atherosclerosis. If a piece of this plaque breaks off, it can lead to a clot forming in the brain and cause a stroke.

Plaque in the neck arteries is common, but the ones most likely to rupture have a large amount of cholesterol at their core. Doctors can try and identify them using an MRI scanner, a machine which uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images in the body. But the current method is complicated to administer and provides results which are difficult to interpret, according to the researchers.

Dr Luca Biasiolli at the university will investigate if a new type of MRI scan offers a more accurate and easier way of identifying the most dangerous build-ups.

"If successful, this new test will provide doctors with a better tool for making decisions about treatments that could save someone's life. It would mean they could act early against plaques at risk of causing strokes, but also help people avoid unnecessary operations on ones that were less dangerous," said Biasiolli.

In the UK alone, there are around 240,000 hospital episodes attributed to stroke every year, causing around 40,000 deaths.

"Stroke is a major cause of death and disability, so it's important we try to find those who are at highest risk," said Biasiolli.