A new analysis of 23 studies involving more than 2,500 stroke survivors found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve thinking and daily living skills after a stroke. The analysis compared different rTMS protocols to see which worked best for post-stroke cognitive impairment.
The results showed that high-frequency stimulation to the left side of the brain's prefrontal cortex was most effective for improving scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a test of thinking abilities. For the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), high-frequency stimulation to the right side worked best. And for daily function, measured by the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), high-frequency stimulation to both sides gave the greatest improvement.
The analysis did not report on side effects or safety issues. The researchers note that more studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine the best stimulation settings for different patients.
For stroke survivors and their families, this research suggests that brain stimulation may be a promising way to help with thinking and daily tasks after a stroke. However, it is not yet a standard treatment, and anyone interested should talk to their doctor about whether it might be an option.