Research on stroke recovery shows promise

Stroke victims may soon be able to be given a definitive prediction of their chances of recovery. File photo / NZ Herald

Stroke victims may soon be able to be given a definitive prediction of their chances of recovery, University of Auckland researchers say.

Dr Cathy Stinear, from the university's Centre for Brain Research, said a stroke was a leading cause of disability in developed countries.

The ability to live independently after a stroke depended largely on how well a patient could recover movement.

Being able to more accurately predict a patient's prognosis for recovery would benefit patients and clinicians as both could set more realistic goals and resources could be more effectively allocated, she said.

Existing techniques used to predict stroke recovery included motor impairment scores and brain scans but future techniques could use tests to detect the extent of damage to key pathways in the brain.

"The first few days after a stroke can be a very anxious time for patients," Dr Stinear said.

Apart from the shock, they often worry about whether they'll be able to look after themselves and any dependents in the future. Being able to confidently and accurately predict the recovery of motor skills for these people would be a great relief.

She said new techniques which included genetic tests for neural plasticity (the brain's ability to repair itself) were showing promise.

The university's research on techniques for predicting stroke recovery has been published in the world's leading neurology journal, The Lancet Neurology.

- NZPA