Reasoning training in veteran and civilian traumatic brain injury with persistent mild impairment

Why couldn't this be used for stroke survivors? Or is your stroke department so f*cking incompetent that they don't even follow research? Ask the stroke department head what was the latest update to stroke protocols from research that they have applied. If none, I think that requires a call to the hospital president and board of directors about why they are employing this person.
Pay it forward people. If we don't start screaming bloody murder your grandchildren will have as lousy a stroke recovery as you had.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09602011.2015.1044013

DOI:

10.1080/09602011.2015.1044013

Asha Vas^a*, Sandra Chapman^a, Sina Aslan^ab, Jeffrey Spence^a, Molly Keebler^a, Gisella Rodriguez-Larrain^a, Barry Rodgers^a, Tiffani Jantz^a, David Martinez^a, Jelena Rakic^a & Daniel Krawczyk^a

Publishing models and article dates explained

• Received: 7 Oct 2014
• Accepted: 17 Apr 2015
• Published online: 27 May 2015

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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a chronic health condition. The prevalence of TBI, combined with limited advances in protocols to mitigate persistent TBI-related impairments in higher order cognition, present a significant challenge. In this randomised study (n = 60), we compared the benefits of Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART, n  = 31), a strategy-based programme shown to improve cognitive control, versus an active learning programme called Brain Health Workshop (BHW, n  = 29) in individuals with TBI with persistent mild functional deficits. Outcomes were measured on cognitive, psychological health, functional, and imaging measures. Repeated measures analyses of immediate post-training and 3-month post-training demonstrated gains on the cognitive control domain of gist reasoning (ability to abstract big ideas/goals from complex information/tasks) in the SMART group as compared to BHW. Gains following the SMART programme were also evident on improved executive function, memory, and daily function as well as reduced symptoms associated with depression and stress. The SMART group showed an increase in bilateral precuneus cerebral blood flow (CBF). Improvements in gist reasoning in the SMART group were also associated with an increase in CBF in the left inferior frontal region, the left insula and the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex. These results add to prior findings that the SMART programme provides an efficient set of strategies that have the potential to improve cognitive control performance and associated executive functions and daily function, to enhance psychological health, and facilitate positive neural plasticity in adults with persistent mild impairment after TBI.