OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of high versus low-intensity exercise on cognitive function following stroke. DESIGN: Secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial with blinded assessors. SUBJECTS: 50 to 80 years old, living in the community, > 1 year post-stroke. METHODS: Participants were randomized into a high-intensity aerobic exercise or low-intensity non-aerobic balance/flexibility program. Both programs were 6 months long, with 3 60-min sessions/week. Verbal item and working memory, selective attention and conflict resolution, set shifting were assessed before and after the program. RESULTS: Forty-seven participants completed the study (22/25 in aerobic exercise group, 25/25 in balance/flexibility group). There was an improvement in verbal item memory in both groups (time effect p = 0.04), and no between-group differences in improvement in the other outcomes (p > 0.27). There was no association between pre-exercise cognitive function and post-exercise improvement. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to a small body of previous research suggesting positive benefits of exercise on cognition post-stroke, the current study found that 6 months of high or low intensity exercise was not effective in improving cognitive function, specifically executive functions. Further research in this area is warranted to establish the effectiveness of post-stroke exercise programs on cognition, and examine the mechanisms that underlie these changes.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher