Researchers conducted a randomized trial involving 301 people with mild stroke symptoms across four Norwegian hospitals. The study compared a specialized, coordinator-led program involving monthly meetings and personalized goals against standard care. The study followed participants for 18 months to measure physical function, quality of life, and cognitive ability.
The results showed that the intervention had different effects depending on the age of the patient. For younger participants, the program led to a measurable improvement in cognitive speed on the Trail Making Test B. However, for patients aged 80 and older, the intervention group was actually less likely to achieve a favorable outcome compared to those receiving standard care.
While the program did not show a general benefit for everyone, it did show a specific link between age and how well the treatment worked. No link was found between the level of frailty and the success of the program. Because this was a single-blinded study, the results should be viewed as specific to these groups rather than a universal rule for all stroke survivors.
