Physical rehabilitation and pharmacotherapy of cognitive functions and asthenic disorders in stroke patients

Abstract

The article deals with the state of cognitive functions (memory, attention and thought process) and asthenic disorders in stroke patients in the process of physical rehabilitation and pharmacotherapy. The study used conventional methods for determining the state of cognitive functions. To improve cognitive abilities in the process of physical rehabilitation in the experimental group of patients, traditional methods and special physical exercises in the form of training tasks for memory, attention and thought processes were used. In the control group of patients only traditional methods of restoration of cognitive functions were used. Both groups of patients took the same drugs to improve cognitive function and relieve symptoms of cerebrogenic asthenia, using classic nootropic drugs (Pyracetam, Phenotropil, Vinpotropil), peptide drugs (Cortexin, Cerebrolysin, Noopept, Semax), antidepressants and tranquilizers (benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine). It is determined that the most important indicator of memory quality is short-term memory. In the experimental group in the process of physical rehabilitation revealed an improvement in this memory in 50% of patients, the deterioration of this indicator in 34% of persons, and 16% memory remained at the same level. Short-term memory indices in post-stroke patients of the control group are lower and correspond to: improvement – in 35%, deterioration – in 40%, remained at the same level in 25% of patients. Since the rate of short-term memory is 7 ± 2 units of information, the study showed that in all patients after a stroke, the indicators of storing information in short-term memory have become normal. The study of attention stability revealed that in the control group of patients it is worse than in the experimental group, and that the stability of attention does not depend on the experience of the post-stroke state. Patients with 3 years of post-stroke experience show the same results as patients with 6-month stroke. The study of inductive thinking showed that in both groups of patients it is in good condition. As for the indicators of practical mathematical thinking, 83% of the participants coped with the task in the experimental group, and 17% failed. In the control group, 57% of patients coped with this task, and 43% failed. Only 50% of the patients in the experimental group and 42% of the control group coped with a more difficult task in this type of thinking. The same results were obtained in persons without stroke. This shows that the more difficult tasks of identifying this type of thinking are difficult for people after a stroke. It can be concluded that the mental processes of a person after a stroke are in optimal condition.