Restorative neurology and neuroscience
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Nov 2016
ReviewThe role of physical exercise in cognitive recovery after traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.
There is a growing body of evidence revealing exercise-induced effects on brain structure and cognitive function across the lifespan. Animal models of traumatic brain injury also suggest exercise is capable of modulating not only the pathophysiological changes following trauma but also the associated cognitive deficits. ⋯ Evidence of an effect of physical exercise on cognitive recovery suggests further studies should explore this treatment option with greater methodological approaches. Recommendations to reduce risk of bias and methodological shortfalls are discussed and include stricter inclusion criteria to create homogenous groups and larger patient pools, more rigorous cognitive assessments and the study and reporting of additional and combined rehabilitation techniques.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Nov 2016
ReviewThe role of physical exercise in cognitive recovery after traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.
There is a growing body of evidence revealing exercise-induced effects on brain structure and cognitive function across the lifespan. Animal models of traumatic brain injury also suggest exercise is capable of modulating not only the pathophysiological changes following trauma but also the associated cognitive deficits. ⋯ Evidence of an effect of physical exercise on cognitive recovery suggests further studies should explore this treatment option with greater methodological approaches. Recommendations to reduce risk of bias and methodological shortfalls are discussed and include stricter inclusion criteria to create homogenous groups and larger patient pools, more rigorous cognitive assessments and the study and reporting of additional and combined rehabilitation techniques.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
ReviewChronic neurodegenerative consequences of traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health concern and a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Each year, an estimated 1.7 million Americans sustain TBI of which ~52,000 people die, ~275,000 people are hospitalized and 1,365,000 people are treated as emergency outpatients. Currently there are ~5.3 million Americans living with TBI. ⋯ Single brain injury is linked to later development of symptoms resembling Alzheimer's disease while repetitive brain injuries are linked to later development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and/or Dementia Pugilistica (DP). Furthermore, genetic background of ß-amyloid precursor protein (APP), Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), presenilin (PS) and neprilysin (NEP) genes is associated with exacerbation of neurodegenerative process after TBI. This review encompasses acute effects and chronic neurodegenerative consequences after TBI.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2014
ReviewChronic pain: the role of learning and brain plasticity.
Based on theoretical considerations and recent observations, we argue that continued suffering of chronic pain is critically dependent on the state of motivational and emotional mesolimbic-prefrontal circuitry of the brain. The plastic changes that occur within this circuitry in relation to nociceptive inputs dictate the transition to chronic pain, rendering the pain less somatic and more affective in nature. ⋯ We argue that the definition of chronic pain can be recast, within the associative learning and valuation concept, as an inability to extinguish the associated memory trace, implying that supraspinal/cortical manipulations may be a more fruitful venue for adequately modulating suffering and related behavior for chronic pain. We briefly review the evidence generated to date for the proposed model and emphasize that the details of underlying mechanisms remain to be expounded.
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Restor. Neurol. Neurosci. · Jan 2011
ReviewUnderstanding and enhancing motor recovery after stroke using transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability. Understanding how people recover from stroke and other brain lesions remain one of the biggest conundrums in neuroscience. As a result, concerted efforts in recent years have focused on investigating the neurophysiological changes that occur in the brain after stroke, and in developing novel strategies to enhance motor recovery. ⋯ We also consider recent studies using repetitive TMS (rTMS) in stroke patients to enhance upper extremity function. Although further studies are needed, these investigations provide an important starting point to understand the stimulation parameters and patient characteristics that may influence the optimal response to non-invasive brain stimulation. Future directions of rTMS are discussed in the context of post-stroke motor recovery.