Train-your-brain pilot community-based intervention after stroke: cognitive trajectory over 10-month follow-up

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Stroke frequently results in cognitive impairments, significantly impacting survivors' quality of life.
• Community-based interventions are being explored to mitigate post-stroke cognitive deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Train-Your-Brain (TYB) pilot intervention's effectiveness on cognitive outcomes in stroke survivors and their caregivers.
• To assess cognitive changes at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a 10-month follow-up.

Main Methods:

• The study included 31 participants: 20 stroke survivors and 11 caregivers.
• Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT).
• Subtest-level performance analysis was conducted for the MoCA.

Main Results:

• Stroke survivors' MoCA immediate recall scores declined at 10 months (p=0.005), with free and category-cued recall worsening, while multiple-choice recall remained stable.
• Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores showed a slight improvement post-intervention, maintained at 10 months.
• Caregivers demonstrated significant improvements in MoCA language and sentence repetition scores at 10 months (p=0.014).

Conclusions:

• The TYB intervention may offer short-term cognitive stabilization for stroke survivors, but long-term sustainability of these benefits is questionable.
• Persistent cognitive deficits highlight the necessity for sustained and long-term support strategies for stroke survivors.
• The intervention showed positive, lasting effects on specific cognitive domains for caregivers.