Cognitive Rehabilitation Improves Ischemic Stroke-Induced Cognitive Impairment: Role of Growth Factors

Cognitive dysfunction is the most common nonphysical impairment in the stroke survivors. This impairment has a negative impact on patients' quality of life affects their daily living activities. Both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are employed to improve cognitive impairment. Recently, nonpharmacological interventions have attracted great attention. Cognitive rehabilitation is considered as a therapeutic strategy to improve and maintain cognitive skills in patients with stroke. Enriched environment (EE), as a cognitive rehabilitation strategy, has been shown to facilitate physical, cognitive, as well as social abilities. Moreover, EE has been shown to increase endogenous growth factors. Growth factors have pivotal role in neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, as well as brain remodeling through neuron development, differentiation, and survival. In addition, administration of exogenous growth factors prevents cognitive dysfunction. Here, we review preclinical and clinical evidence of cognitive rehabilitation and role of growth factors in treating poststroke cognitive impairment.