Combined Exercise and Targeted Therapy for Post-Stroke Reading Deficits

Launched by KESSLER FOUNDATION · Jan 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people who have trouble reading after having a stroke. The study combines exercise training with a special reading treatment to improve reading skills. The idea is that exercising may help increase blood flow to the brain, which could strengthen the areas of the brain that are important for reading and language. By using both exercise and targeted reading strategies, researchers hope to see better improvements than with reading treatment alone.

The trial is open to individuals aged 65 to 74 who have had their first stroke more than three months ago and are experiencing difficulties reading. To participate, you should have been fluent in English before the stroke and currently struggle with reading accurately. It’s important to note that you must live within 50 miles of the Kessler Foundation to be eligible. Participants can expect to engage in both exercise and reading activities during the study, which aims to help them regain their reading abilities.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • fluent and literate in English prior to stroke
• • 1st ever stroke
• • more than 3 months post-stroke
• • post-stroke reading deficits, defined as reading aloud accuracy \<83% for single words or \<65% for readable nonwords
• • living within a 50-mile radius from Kessler Foundation.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • contraindication to MRI
• • prior neurological disease
• • developmental learning or reading disability (i.e., developmental dyslexia)
• • contraindication to exercise
• • concurrent speech and language therapy