Changing stroke rehab and research worldwide now.Time is Brain! trillions and trillions of neurons that DIE each day because there are NO effective hyperacute therapies besides tPA(only 12% effective). I have 523 posts on hyperacute therapy, enough for researchers to spend decades proving them out. These are my personal ideas and blog on stroke rehabilitation and stroke research. Do not attempt any of these without checking with your medical provider. Unless you join me in agitating, when you need these therapies they won't be there.

What this blog is for:

My blog is not to help survivors recover, it is to have the 10 million yearly stroke survivors light fires underneath their doctors, stroke hospitals and stroke researchers to get stroke solved. 100% recovery. The stroke medical world is completely failing at that goal, they don't even have it as a goal. Shortly after getting out of the hospital and getting NO information on the process or protocols of stroke rehabilitation and recovery I started searching on the internet and found that no other survivor received useful information. This is an attempt to cover all stroke rehabilitation information that should be readily available to survivors so they can talk with informed knowledge to their medical staff. It lays out what needs to be done to get stroke survivors closer to 100% recovery. It's quite disgusting that this information is not available from every stroke association and doctors group.

Showing posts with label computerized cognitive training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computerized cognitive training. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Feasibility and effectiveness of computerised cognitive training for memory dysfunction following stroke: A series of single case studies

You'll want your doctor to prescribe this for you. Assuming your doctor is up-to-date. If not, call the hospital president and have him/her fired for incompetence. I take no prisoners in my calls for excellence in stroke. Even with no definitive success, your doctor needs to try something, rather than sitting on his/her ass relying on the failures of the status quo to not get survivors 100% recovered. 

Feasibility and effectiveness of computerised cognitive training for memory dysfunction following stroke: A series of single case studies


Received 11 Oct 2017, Accepted 13 Jul 2018, Published online: 30 Jul 2018


Computerised cognitive training (CCT) approaches to memory rehabilitation represent an attractive alternative to traditional approaches; however, there is limited empirical evidence to support their use. An AB with follow up single case design was repeated across five participants to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of CCT on subjective memory in patients with stroke. Target behaviour was subjective everyday and prospective memory failures which were assessed weekly. Following baseline (three weeks), participants completed six weeks of LumosityTM training in their homes. Data were analysed visually and statistically. The frequency of prospective memory failures decreased during intervention for one participant, while the frequency of prospective and everyday memory failures decreased significantly during the follow up period for another participant. Yet, significantly more everyday and prospective memory failures were reported following training by one study participant. No significant change in subjective memory ratings was found for remaining participants. Regarding secondary outcomes, meaningful changes on objective measures of memory were not observed, despite considerable inter-individual variability. Three participants reported improvement in individualised memory goals, while two participants described a decline. Overall, LumosityTM training appears feasible; however, no consistent evidence to support effectiveness of this CCT on subjective or objective memory was found.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Understanding the experience of compensatory and restorative memory rehabilitation: A qualitative study of stroke survivors

Shit, another useless research piece. No protocols that came out of it. Nothing that a survivor could take to their therapists or doctors to get recovered. 

Understanding the experience of compensatory and restorative memory rehabilitation: A qualitative study of stroke survivors


, Dana Wong , Jennie L. Ponsford , Narelle Warren & Renerus J. Stolwyk
Received 19 Dec 2017, Accepted 16 May 2018, Published online: 11 Jun 2018

Translator disclaimer

ABSTRACT
Memory impairment is common following stroke. Memory skills groups (MSGs) utilising compensatory strategies and computerised cognitive training (CCT) are two rehabilitation approaches available to improve memory function; however, there is no consensus as to which is more effective following stroke. This study aimed to explore and contrast the qualitative experiences of 20 stroke survivors (Mage = 61.90, SD = 10.48, range: 34–77 years) who received six weeks’ training in MSG (manualised memory skills group, n = 10) or individual-CCT (LumosityTM, n = 10). Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected and analysed thematically, adopting a critical realist approach. Six themes were identified: (1) Facilitators and barriers to intervention engagement, (2) Improving knowledge and understanding, (3) Connecting with others, (4) Perception of the intervention, (5) Impact on everyday memory and (6) Impact on emotions and sense of purpose. Encouragingly, most participants valued and enjoyed participating in the memory interventions, irrespective of rehabilitation approach. MSG participants reported learning and sharing with similar others as important to the experience and described everyday memory improvements. CCT participants described enjoyment of its game-like nature, yet reported frustration associated with game-specific characteristics, and did not report everyday memory improvements.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Computer brain games for treating cognitive impairment

This came out a couple of days ago.

Report challenges claims of cognitive benefits of online brain-training games

So what the fuck are you as stroke survivor supposed to do? Your doctor will hem and haw and never give you a stroke protocol on this.


Computer brain games for treating cognitive impairment

The Bottom Line

  • Computerized cognitive training (CCT) is an enjoyable, easy and relatively inexpensive way to stay mentally fit.
  • CCT contributes to short-term cognitive improvements in people with mild cognitive impairment. Small improvements were also seen in people with dementia.
  • More research is needed to find out the longer term benefits of CCT, and if it helps prevent people with mild cognitive impairment from developing dementia.
“Use it or lose it.” That advice can apply to many situations but is often used to stress the importance of keeping our bodies and minds active in order to stay healthy, independent and mentally fit for as long as possible.

Research evidence supports this old adage (1) and there are plenty of good options for staying physically active… but how can we best exercise our brains? One option for a cognitive “work out” is computerized cognitive training (CCT): various types of computer programs designed to strengthen overall cognition and improve memory, attention span and learning. With many options now available online, CCT is showing promise in helping to prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults (2;3).

That led researchers to investigate whether CCT could benefit those who have already experienced cognitive decline (4).They include people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who have noticeable problems with thinking, memory, language and decision making but are still able to function independently, and people with dementia whose cognitive impairments interfere with daily activities.

Study groups participated in supervised computerized cognitive skills training, video games or virtual reality activities for at least four hours in total, after which their cognitive abilities were measured and compared to control groups who didn’t take part in CCT or did different types of training.

What the research tells us

Cognitive “brain games” may be screen time well spent!

People with MCI experienced moderate improvement in their overall cognitive abilities after taking part in computerized cognitive training sessions, specifically in areas such as memory, attention, verbal and non-verbal learning, and psychosocial functioning (4). For people with dementia, the evidence was less encouraging but some minor improvements were noted.

Cognition tests were taken immediately after the completion of training, so the results don’t tell us much about the longer term impacts of CCT. More research is needed to address those and other questions, including whether CCT can help prevent the progression of mild cognitive impairment to full dementia.

Although these results are promising, computer “brain games” should not be considered a one-step solution to keep our brains healthy and sharp. Research evidence shows that people with cognitive impairment, and their caregivers, benefit most when support programs have multiple components, including physical exercise and social interaction (5), and most of us can benefit from less sedentary screen time! However, this research suggests that computer-based cognitive training can be considered one promising addition to treatment for people with cognitive impairment.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Augmented cognitive behavioral therapy for poststroke depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

Why would you want to do this for depression rather than SSRIs which also gives you better recovery? The comparison should have also been against SSRIs. Now more followup research still needs to be done. All because there is NO stroke strategy and NO stroke leadership.

Common antidepressant can help stroke patients improve movement and coordination Sept. 2015 

Antidepressants may help people recover from stroke even if they are not depressed Jan. 2013


Augmented cognitive behavioral therapy for poststroke depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Volume 98(4) , Pgs. 687-694.

NARIC Accession Number: J75822.  What's this?
ISSN: 0003-9993.
Author(s): Kootker, Joyce A.; Rasquin, Sascha M. C.; Lem, Frederick C.; van Heugten, Caroline M.; Fasotti, Luciano; Geurts, Alexander C. H..
Publication Year: 2017.
Number of Pages: 8.
Abstract: Study evaluated the effectiveness of individually tailored cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for reducing depressive symptoms with or without anxiety after stroke. Sixty-one patients who had a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression subscale (HADS-D) score >7 at least 3 months poststroke were randomly allocated to either augmented CBT or computerized cognitive training (CCT). The CBT intervention was based on the principles of recognizing, registering, and altering negative thoughts and cognitions. CBT was augmented with goal-directed real-life activity training given by an occupational or movement therapist. The HADS-D score was the primary outcome, and measures of participation and quality of life were secondary outcomes. Outcome measurements were performed at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and at 4- and 8-month follow-up. Analysis was performed with linear mixed models using group (CBT versus CCT) as the between-subjects factor and time (4 assessments) as the within-subjects factor. Mixed-model analyses showed a significant and persistent time effect for HADS-D and for participation and quality of life in both groups. There was no significant group-by-time effect for any of the outcome measures. Findings indicated that the augmented CBT intervention was not superior to CCT for the treatment of mood disorders after stroke. Future studies should determine whether both interventions are better than natural history.
Descriptor Terms: ANXIETY DISORDERS, DEPRESSION, INTERVENTION, OUTCOMES, PSYCHOTHERAPY, STROKE.


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Citation: Kootker, Joyce A., Rasquin, Sascha M. C., Lem, Frederick C., van Heugten, Caroline M., Fasotti, Luciano, Geurts, Alexander C. H.. (2017). Augmented cognitive behavioral therapy for poststroke depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , 98(4), Pgs. 687-694. Retrieved 5/13/2017, from REHABDATA database.


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Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.