Effect of robot-assisted training on cognitive function in post-stroke patients: a meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Cognitive Science
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) affects approximately one-third of stroke survivors globally.
• Effective management of cognitive function (CF) post-stroke is a critical clinical challenge.
• Robot-assisted training (RAT) is increasingly used for CF rehabilitation, yet its efficacy remains debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis (MA) and provide updated evidence on the comparative effects of RAT versus traditional training (TT).
• To assess the impact of RAT on cognitive function in post-stroke (PS) patients.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Studies comparing RAT (intervention) with TT (control) were included, with cognitive outcomes primarily measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score.
• Data analysis involved study screening, quality assessment, data extraction, sensitivity and subgroup analyses, and pooled data analysis using RevMan 5.4 and STATA 15.0.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 13 studies with 488 patients.
• RAT significantly improved MoCA scores in PS patients (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.04-0.81], p = 0.03).
• Sensitivity analyses revealed significant instability in MoCA and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) score changes, necessitating cautious interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted training demonstrates a potential benefit for improving cognitive function in post-stroke patients.
• The current evidence supporting RAT's efficacy is of low quality.
• Further high-quality research is essential to validate these findings and establish definitive conclusions regarding RAT for post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.