Exercise Improves Brain Function Following Stroke
Physical activity (PA) training enhances cognitive function post-stroke, according to a new study.
“We also found that physical activity training had favorable effects on cognition even when introduced during the chronic stroke phase,” said lead study author Lauren Oberlin, MS, a graduate student in the department of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh.
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The researchers synthesized data from 639 participants included in 13 intervention trials that involved PA training and assessments of neurocognitive function. Intervention effects were represented by Hedges’ g, calculated separately for intervention and control conditions within each trial. Effect size data were subjected to moderation analyses using the between-group heterogeneity (QB) test. They analyzed data using random and mixed-effects approaches.
The investigators observed a positive, moderate effect size for PA training on a domain general estimate of global cognition. Furthermore, a mixed-effects analysis indicated that PA training led to significantly greater cognitive gains relative to controls.
They observed performance improvements in all neurocognitive domains assessed among those who received PA training, including working memory, executive function, and attention and processing speed. The effects of PA training on cognition were not moderated by intervention length or time from stroke to initiation of the intervention.
“Other research has shown that physical activity leads to improvements in mobility, strength, and quality of life, and our work extends these benefits to cognitive recovery, so physical activity is a single strategy that may target multiple functional domains,” Oberlin said. “Informing or educating patients on the cognitive benefits of exercise may increase their interest or level of motivation to engage in physical activity.”
The analysis suggests combined aerobic and strength training programs may generate the largest cognitive gains, “which may be important to keep in mind when recommending particular physical activity protocols,” she said.
For future studies, Oberlin’s research group hopes to employ an intervention approach to address other questions, including exercise effects on cognition earlier in the course of stroke recovery.
—Mike Bederka
Reference:
Oberlin LE, Bernhardt J, Cumming TB, et al. Effects of exercise on post-stroke cognitive function. International Stroke Conference 2017, Houston, Texas. February 22, 2017.