Eye Movement Technique to Improve Executive Function in Patients With Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Neurology

Background:

• Executive dysfunction is a common and debilitating consequence of stroke, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and independence.
• Current rehabilitation strategies often focus on gross motor recovery, with less emphasis on targeted interventions for cognitive deficits like executive dysfunction.
• There is a need for novel, accessible, and effective therapeutic approaches to address executive dysfunction post-stroke.

Observation:

• A prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving 64 stroke patients investigated the efficacy of an eye movement technique combined with routine management.
• The intervention group received 6 weeks of eye movement training, including goal management, working memory, and inhibitory control exercises.
• Assessments included the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and modified Barthel Index (MBI).

Findings:

• The eye movement group showed significant improvements in BADS and WCST scores immediately post-intervention compared to the routine group (P < 0.05).
• At 4-week follow-up, the eye movement group demonstrated significantly higher MoCA and MBI scores and reduced reaction time (P < 0.05).
• Sustained improvements were observed in MBI scores post-follow-up (P < 0.001), although MoCA scores and reaction time did not differ significantly from the routine group.

Implications:

• The eye movement technique shows potential as an effective intervention for improving executive function and cognitive abilities in stroke survivors.
• This technique may contribute to enhanced daily living activities and functional independence in patients recovering from stroke.
• Further validation through larger, multi-center trials is recommended to confirm the long-term efficacy and generalizability of the eye movement technique.