The evaluation of the rehabilitation effects on cognitive dysfunction and changes in psychomotor reactions in stroke patients

Stroke patients often experience cognitive dysfunctions. One of the parameters assessing cognitive function is the reaction time as it reflects the speed of information processing. The aim of the study was to assess cognitive and psychomotor dysfunctions and the effectiveness of rehabilitation in stroke patients. The subjects of the study were 30 stroke patients who underwent rehabilitation at the Department of Neurorehabilitation. The mean age of patients was 65.33±13.2 years. During the study, the patients’ cognitive functions, the handgrip strength, reaction time, and frequency of movements were assessed. There was a substantial improvement in patients’ cognitive function after rehabilitation. Assessing the results obtained by Mini Mental State Examination, the change was 6.4±2.3 points, and assessing by Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (Cognistat), the change was 13.3±10 points (P<0.05). Before the early stage of rehabilitation, Cognistat results showed that the majority of the patients experienced memory loss, diminished constructive abilities, and disorientation. After occupational therapy, there was a statistically significant improvement in all cognitive function domains. At the end of the inpatient rehabilitation period, there was a significant change in patients’ reaction time and movement frequency. At the end of early rehabilitation stage, the estimated reaction time in patients with stroke was compared with reaction time in healthy elderly people of the same age. There was no significant difference between these groups; consequently, we concluded that after rehabilitation, improvement of function was achieved. The results of this study showed that at the beginning of early rehabilitation period and after rehabilitation applied, there was a significant moderate correlation between mental state and reaction time in stroke patients.