Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Elizabeth R. Skidmore, Gail Eskes, Amy Brodtmann
Summary: This review provides an overview of executive function impairment among stroke survivors, including definitions, concepts, and measures. It summarizes current best evidence on executive function impairment and recovery trajectories, correlates of change over time, and emerging intervention research. The review also offers recommendations for research and clinical practices, as well as future priorities in executive function research.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexandra Zezinka Durfee, Argye E. Hillis
Summary: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a common and disabling cognitive consequence of stroke, with decreased response to contralesional information. This review provides insights into the neural mechanisms and predictors of recovery for USN, as well as a rapid review of recent randomized controlled trials on USN intervention. The quality of these trials has improved, but challenges remain in terms of participant demographic reporting and small, heterogenous sample sizes, affecting generalizability and cross-study interpretation. However, accumulating evidence supports the underlying neural mechanisms of USN recovery and the effectiveness of targeted interventions, paving the way for future investigations into patient-specific factors influencing treatment response. Gaps and suggestions for future USN intervention research are also identified.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shahabeddin Vahdat, Arjun Vivek Pendharkar, Terrance Chiang, Sean Harvey, Haruto Uchino, Zhijuan Cao, Anika Kim, ManKin Choy, Hansen Chen, Hyun Joo Lee, Michelle Y. Cheng, Jin Hyung Lee, Gary K. Steinberg
Summary: Poststroke optogenetic stimulations in mice can restore activation of ipsilesional corticothalamic and corticocortical circuits, which is correlated with functional recovery. Stimulation of the corticothalamic circuit alone is sufficient to improve functional recovery after stroke. These findings suggest early involvement of the corticothalamic circuit as a key mediator of poststroke recovery.
Review
Neurosciences
S. Conti, C. Spalletti, M. Pasquini, N. Giordano, N. Barsotti, M. Mainardi, S. Lai, A. Giorgi, M. Pasqualetti, S. Micera, M. Caleo
Summary: Despite limited efficacy of robotic rehabilitation technologies for post-stroke motor recovery, combining robotic rehabilitation with chemogenetic stimulation of serotonin release shows promise in enhancing post-stroke motor performance. This combined approach results in substantial functional gains in mice that persist beyond treatment period and is associated with a reduction in GABAergic neurotransmission in perilesional areas. The immediate translational potential of this combined approach is demonstrated by the administration of a clinically approved drug, Buspirone, targeting the serotonin 1A receptor to significantly improve motor recovery after stroke.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jun-Xiang Wang, Olivia Lai Fidimanantsoa, Liang-Xiao Ma
Summary: With the increasing trend of aging population, stroke has become a major global public health problem. Spasticity, as a main debilitating motor impairment after stroke, has significant negative impacts on patients' quality of life and social participation. Current research has shown that abnormal neural modulation and muscle properties contribute to the development of poststroke spasticity (PSS). Acupuncture, as an essential non-pharmacological therapy, has shown favorable effects on improving spastic hypertonia and motor function in PSS patients. However, more studies are needed to investigate the acupuncture technique and optimize the acupuncture regimen for better outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sheng Li, Gerard E. Francisco, W. Zev Rymer
Summary: The relationship between poststroke spasticity and motor recovery can be confusing. True motor recovery involves neural recovery and repair in the acute and subacute stages, while functional recovery is mainly mediated by compensatory mechanisms. Spasticity interferes with true motor recovery but does not affect functional recovery in the acute and subacute stages, although appropriate management can lead to improvement in motor function during the chronic stage of stroke.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Loris Pignolo, Paolo Tonin, Pierluigi Nicotera, Giacinto Bagetta, Damiana Scuteri
Summary: This study aims to assess the impact of robot-assisted neurorehabilitation on the prevention of poststroke pain. A total of 118 stroke patients will be enrolled and randomly allocated to receive either ARAMIS or conventional rehabilitation. The study will evaluate the efficacy of the treatments and their effect on the quality of life of stroke survivors.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yan-Ying Fan, Yu Li, Xiao-Ying Tian, Ying-Jing Wang, Jing Huo, Bao-Lu Guo, Ru Chen, Cai-Hong Yang, Yan Li, Hui-Feng Zhang, Bao-Long Niu, Ming-Sheng Zhang
Summary: This study found that acidic postconditioning can have neuroprotective effects during the acute phase of stroke. The effects of delayed chronic acidic postconditioning (DCAPC) during the subacute phase or other acute brain injuries were investigated. The results showed that DCAPC significantly promoted motor functional recovery and brain tissue repair, suggesting its therapeutic potential for stroke treatment.
TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Emilia Conti, Alessandro Scaglione, Giuseppe de Vito, Francesco Calugi, Maria Pasquini, Tommaso Pizzorusso, Silvestro Micera, Anna Letizia Allegra Mascaro, Francesco Saverio Pavone
Summary: The study reveals that the extension and localization of new motor representations are specific to the treatment, with most treatments promoting segregation of motor representation to the peri-infarct region. Interestingly, only the combined therapy promotes both the recovery of forelimb functionality and the rescue of spatio-temporal features of motor-related activity.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Tingwei Wang, Jiahui Tai, Ruiping Hu, Shunjuan Fan, Haozheng Li, Yulian Zhu, Yi Wu, Junfa Wu
Summary: This study demonstrates that tongue-pressure resistance training is an effective approach to improve the overall swallowing function in patients with oral motor dysfunction. The improvement of oral motor function could facilitate the recovery of pharyngeal motor function. Tongue-pressure resistance training seems to have more clearance of residue in pyriform sinuses than epiglottic vallecula.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ekaterina S. Koroleva, Stanislav D. Kazakov, Ivan Tolmachev, Anton J. M. Loonen, Svetlana A. Ivanova, Valentina M. Alifirova
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of different rehabilitation strategies on neurological and functional outcomes three months after ischemic stroke, finding that early rehabilitation and augmented reality rehabilitation significantly improved functional independence and motor functions. It is concluded that rehabilitation programs should be carried out throughout the entire sensitive period of poststroke plasticity, and the combination of early rehabilitation and augmented reality biofeedback motion training is effective and safe in the early recovery period of ischemic stroke.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah Park, Ada Tang, Courtney Pollock, Brodie M. Sakakibara
Summary: This paper describes the protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis that aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of lower extremity-focused telerehabilitation interventions for stroke patients.
Article
Rehabilitation
Kent P. Simmonds, Zhehui Luo, Mathew Reeves
Summary: The study showed significant racial/ethnic disparities in poststroke function, with Black and Hispanic patients having lower FIM scores compared to White patients. These disparities varied by stroke subtype, with the most prominent differences observed between Black and White patients. Age was a major confounding factor for Black-White disparities, especially for patients with hemorrhagic stroke.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alexander B. Remsik, Peter L. E. van Kan, Shawna Gloe, Klevest Gjini, Leroy Williams, Veena Nair, Kristin Caldera, Justin C. Williams, Vivek Prabhakaran
Summary: An increasing number of research teams are investigating the effectiveness of brain-computer interface (BCI)-mediated interventions for promoting motor recovery following stroke. Evidence suggests that the most effective designs use functional electrical stimulation (FES) and algorithms to drive electrical stimulation of individual muscles or muscle synergies. The goal of BCI-FES interventions is to facilitate neuroplastic changes and recover sensorimotor function in the impaired extremity.
FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Chenlan Shao, Yongzheng Wang, Hui Gou, Hua Xiao, Tingting Chen
Summary: This study aimed to observe the effect of strength training of the nonhemiplegic side on balance function, mobility, and muscle strength of patients with stroke. The results showed that strength training of the nonhemiplegic side can promote recovery of balance, mobility, and muscle strength of the paretic side of patients with stroke.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)