Early cognitive stimulation of executive functions in cerebral focal damage. Empirical evidence on patients with aphasia secondary to ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In all focal brain injury, rigged to primary neuropsychological syndrome, are establish secondary alterations of the executive functions, as an effect of the reduction of fund's resources of cognitive processing and the increase in consumption for the behavioral regulation. Under these conditions, the system should produce more resources; however, the pathophysiology of brain damage hinders his spontaneous occurrence. Therefore be hypothesized that early cognitive stimulation of executive functions may increase the availability of mental processing resources.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the effectiveness of early cognitive stimulation of executive function in patients with aphasia secondary to ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

METHODS: We conducted a Neuropsychological study of September/2014 September/2015, with the participation of 40 patients with aphasia as a sequel of ischemic stroke, separated in Experimental group and Control Group. The Experimental group, a week after brain damage, and with Neuropsychological tests and brain imaging performed, was subjected to the cognitive tasks of executive function "CogniGames" stimulation system, for 21 days in 90-minute sessions. Meanwhile, the Control Group received routine medical care. At the month of the damage, both groups were subjected to global Neuropsychological exploration. The results were analyzed with descriptive and comparative statisticians.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The overall cognitive performance differed significantly in both groups. The Experimental group showed higher levels of recovery of damage and better cognitive performance. The group control showed deep affectations. These results indicate that early cognitive stimulation of executive functions, in addition to being effective, facilitates general cognitive recovery of the patient.