Exercise After Stroke Improves Cognitive Function
Physical activity important for improving quality of life in stroke rehabilitation
Up to 85% of people who suffer a stroke will have diminished cognitive function, including deficits in executive function, attention, and memory. Researchers at the American Stroke Association’s 2017 International Stroke Conference (ISC) presented research results from a meta-analysis that exercise is a low-cost, effective intervention to improve cognitive deficits in stroke survivors. According to Lauren Oberlin, MD, at the University of Pittsburgh, integrating physical activity, and specifically aerobic training, into stroke rehabilitation is important for improving cognitive function after stroke.
Currently, no pharmaceutical options treat cognitive function, so having an inexpensive and effective treatment that works is important. “We found that a program as short as twelve weeks is effective at improving cognition,” says Oberlin in an AHA statement. “Even patients with chronic stroke can experience improvement in their cognition with an exercise intervention.”
More than 4,100 healthcare professionals from 60 countries are meeting at ISC 2017 in Houston this week to participate in educational sessions on the latest science in stroke research. Visit AHC Media at Booth 661 in the exhibit hall to pick up copies of our award-winning publications and meet some of the staff who work to deliver top-quality neurology and stroke content to medical providers.
See the April issue of Neurology Alert for complete coverage of ISC 2017.