The modern approaches to the prediction of the state of the higher mental functions during post-stroke rehabilitation of the patients

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Based on the results of our original study, we came to the conclusion that such readily available and objective method as electroencephalography for the examination of the patients with ischemic stroke may be useful for the analysis of the parameters of the alpha rhythm with a view to predicting the development of cognitive disorders (CD) which is important for the timely prescription of medicamental therapy and correction of the approaches to the rehabilitative treatment of these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the present study involved 26 patients with ischemic stroke receiving there habilitative treatment and 35 healthy volunteers comprising the control group. All participant of the study underwent the neurological examination and neuropsychological testing; the stroke patients were additionally examined with the use of electroencephalography. RESULTS: It was shown that the increase of the alpha rhythm amplitude in the anterocentral brain regions to more than 60 mV and its reduction to below 20 mV reflected the disturbed hierarchical regulation of the functioning of cerebral structures in the form of the dominant synchronized state of the brain. Its most pronounced clinical manifestations were cognitive disorders. The disturbances to the physiological gradient and the alteration of the alpha rhythm amplitude (to below 20 mV and above 60 mV) in the anterocentral brain regions accounted for the higher than 70% probability of detecting moderate CD in the patients with ischemic stroke. The amplitude of alpha rhythm in the anterocentral brain regions may serve as an indicator of the effectiveness of the consolidation of information in the process of memorization and of the speed of information retrieval; moreover, it is an objective characteristic of the patients' emotional state. It is concluded that the estimation of the amplitude of alpha rhythm in the anterocentral brain regions is needed to predict the course of CD in the patients presenting with ischemic stroke including those receiving the rehabilitative treatment. CONCLUSION: The detailed analysis of the electroencephalograms of the patients makes possible the well-timed correction of the individual rehabilitation program and the enhancement of the effectiveness of recovery of both cognitive and motor functions.