Mounting evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s and antidepressant drugs may also help stroke patients recover.
A stroke can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs
when a blood flow to an area of the brain is either blocked or severely
reduced. When this happens, blood vessels cannot carry much needed oxygen and
nutrients to that part of the brain. As a result, brain cells begin to die
within minutes. Due to the death of brain cells, abilities controlled by that
area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. [Read more 15 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Fish]
There are 2 major types of strokes: Ischemic stroke –
caused by a clot obstructing blood flow to the brain, and Hemorrhagic stroke
– caused by ruptured blood vessel preventing blood flow to the brain. Another
type of stroke, called “mini stroke,” is caused by a temporary clot.
A stroke in the right side of the brain will affect
the left side of the body, leading to paralysis on the left side of the body
and causing vision problems, speech problems, memory and other problems.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and the
leading cause of disability in the United States. Each year, more than 795,000
people in the United States have a stroke which claims the lives of almost
130,000 Americans. One American dies from stroke every 4 minutes.
The good news is that strokes can be treated and prevented.
Fewer Americans die of stroke today than 15 years ago. [Read more Scientists report significant breakthrough in anti-aging]
In the UK, around 152,000 people suffer a stroke each year.
In 2010, stroke was ranked the fourth largest cause of death in the UK after
cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease. The same year, stroke claimed
the lives of 50,000 people in the UK.
About 1 in 3 stroke patients suffers from depression.
This can lead to the patient’s inability to take part in rehabilitation.
There is growing evidence that a class of antidepressants
known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as, Prozac, Paxil
and Celexa, may also boost neurological recovery. Another type of
antidepressant known as Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (NRI) also has shown
to benefit neurological recovery.
The research team led by neurologists Dr. Xabier Beristain
and Dr. Esteban Golombievski, of Loyola University Medical Center and Loyola
University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, IL analysed 56
clinical trials of SSRIs. They found that the drugs seem to improve disability,
dependence, neurological impairment, anxiety and depression after stroke.
There is also mounting evidence that a class of Alzheimer’s
drug known as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors which includes, Aricept, Exelon
and Razadyne, can improve aphasia in stroke patients.
Researchers are also studying a type of Alzheimer’s drug
called Memantine (Namenda). When administered in combination with therapy,
memantine showed language benefits lasting at least a year when compared with a
placebo. However, clinical evidence of this drug for stroke recovery remains
limited. [এসপারাগাসঃ স্বাস্থ্যগুণ, ভেষজগুণ এবং ইতিহাস]
There are some limitations to the study. Most studies
conducted so far for stroke recovery have been small which employed different
methods and time windows between stroke and clinical intervention.
"These medications have not yet been clearly proven to
be of benefit to patients recovering from strokes," says Dr. Beristain.
"We need well-designed, large clinical trials with enough power to establish the usefulness of medications as adjuvants to rehabilitation before we can routinely recommend the use of these agents to enhance neurological recovery after stroke."