[Recovery from vascular aphasia: prognostic factors and evidence from functional brain imaging]

Aphasia is a devastating language impairment resulting from acquired brain damage and resulting in severe communication handicap. Aphasia onset is generally followed by some degree of recovery.

Prognosis of recovery is considered to depend upon a series of interacting neurobiological and individual factors. Prognosis is better determined based on neurobiological factors, whereas individual factors have a less predictable clinical outcome value. In addition, the results of recent functional neuro-imaging studies allow us to better understand the functional anatomy of the recovery from vascular aphasia. The neuro-imaging literature suggests that recovery from aphasia could depend upon right homologous to language areas, as well as on preserved perilesional left hemisphere regions. The role of either hemisphere seems to be modulated by time elapsed after brain damage, and language processing domain. Further, increasing evidence suggests that intensive and specific language therapy may interact with brain plasticity to promote recovery in chronic and severe aphasia.

A better understanding of the factors determining recovery from aphasia will contribute to optimizing intervention and, consequently improve the quality of life of people with aphasia.