A stroke occurs when the flow of blood through a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. The severity of the blockage and the part of the brain in which it occurs influence the degree of cognitive impairment that results. This may include speech problems, memory difficulties, difficulty in making judgments and carrying out simple tasks. Stroke is the third most common cause of death according to the American Stroke Association.
The Developing Brain
The brain is able to reprogram itself after a stroke. It does this by reorganising the cognitive workload across neural connections and networks that have already been formed. It then uses different areas of the brain to control functions formerly managed by damaged areas.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi can help to stimulate cognitive function and standing balance, according to a study carried out in 2009 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Tai chi is a form of mind-body exercise that involves a variety of slow, sequential movements combined with controlled breathing. According to this study, tai chi exercises can help reactivate specific areas in the brain associated with motor skills. Practicing these exercises also helped participants improve their cardiovascular fitness and strength. Memory also improved as movements were learned and repeated over the study period.
Music
Listening to music may also help stroke victims recover their memory and speed of concentration, according to a Finnish study published in the "Oxford Journal" in 2008. Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered that after three months of music therapy the cognitive function of stroke victims had improved compared to those in a control group who had listened to audio books or nothing at all. The group that had listened to the music were less depressed and confused than the control group. This study suggests that listening to music during the early stages of stroke can improve depression and cognitive recovery.
Aerobic Exercise
According to a 2008 study carried out at Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Maryland VA Medical Center and published in "Stroke Journal of the American Heart Association," stroke victims can benefit greatly from aerobic exercise. This study involved 71 participants and was carried out over a six-month period. The participants followed an exercise program, walking on a treadmill for up to 40 minutes, three times a week. Results showed that function in areas of the brain that had been damaged by stroke were taken over by new areas to carry out tasks.
References
- American Stroke Association: About Stroke
- The Franklin Institute Resources for Learning: The Human Brain
- Ultra Fitness Dynamics: Benefits of Tai Chi for Stroke Victims
- Science Daily: Treadmill Exercise Retrains Brain and Body of Stroke Victims
- Brain A Journal of Neurology: Music Listening Enhances Cognitive Recovery and Mood after Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke
