Brainwave helps stroke victims

Cathy Stinear performs TNS priming on stroke survivor Mike Brown. Photo / Jeff Brass

Treatment for stroke survivors is being revolutionised by neuro-scientists at Auckland University.

They have developed a way to fast-track recovery using electro-magnetic equipment to activate dormant brain cells.

Lead researcher Dr Cathy Stinear said the technique prepared the brain when used immediately before a physiotherapy session.

"We can excite the neurons on the side of the brain affected by stroke. It's like warming a car before you go for a drive on a cold morning," she said.

There are about 45,000 stroke survivors in New Zealand.

Among them is Mike Brown. The 60-year-old was the picture of health before collapsing while giving a presentation.

When he woke the next day, the father-of-three was told a stroke had left him with no feeling or movement on one side of his body.

Intense physiotherapy helped in the short-term but Brown continued to have limited use of his left arm and hand. He didn't hesitate to sign up three years ago for Auckland University's first clinical trial of the new equipment.

Stinear said the technique, known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, was safe and painless. The machine was placed against the scalp near the section of the brain in control of movement.

After a few minutes, the device was removed and patients went about their regular physiotherapy exercises.

"Basically it's like a little pinprick on your head. It doesn't hurt but it's quite noisy," said Brown.

Stinear's initial study showed patients made significant gains after a single session. The results were published in an international journal last year.

Her latest project, sponsored by the Neurological Foundation, aims to find out if patients make greater progress the longer their exposure.

Stroke survivors can express an interest in the treatment at the university's newly-opened Auckland Centre for Brain Research.