Impact of cognitive rehabilitation interventions on memory improvement in patients after stroke: A systematic review

Cognitive impairment is a major cause of disability in patients who have suffered from a stroke, and cognitive rehabilitation interventions show promise for improving memory.

To examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) and non-VR (NVR) cognitive rehabilitation techniques for improving memory in patients after stroke.

An extensive and thorough search was executed across five pertinent electronic databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; MEDLINE (PubMed); Scopus; ProQuest Central; and Google Scholar. This systematic review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guideline. Studies that recruited participants who experienced a stroke, utilized cognitive rehabilitation interventions, and published in the last 10 years were included in the review.

Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. VR interventions significantly improved memory and cognitive function (mean difference: 4.2 ± 1.3, P < 0.05), whereas NVR (including cognitive training, music, and exercise) moderately improved memory. Compared with traditional methods, technology-driven VR approaches were particularly beneficial for enhancing daily cognitive tasks.

VR and NVR reality interventions are beneficial for post-stroke cognitive recovery, with VR providing enhanced immersive experiences. Both approaches hold transformative potential for post-stroke rehabilitation.