Abstract
Changes in cognitive function are common sequelae following a stroke. These alterations represent a significant demand for rehabilitation services that have used Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to improve motor functions and mood in post-stroke patients. In addition to its non-invasive nature, there is evidence that this technique positively alters cognitive processes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TMS on the cognition of patients who have suffered a stroke. The study was assessed and approved by the Ethics Committee under protocol 54977216.3.0000.5078. This was an observational, prospective, cross-sectional study involving 30 patients aged between 24 and 74 who had a stroke. Participants were selected from the Neuromodulation Service at a Specialized Rehabilitation Centre. All participants were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), a cognitive screening to detect mild cognitive impairment, and which has been used in the context of stroke and other acquired injuries. The patients underwent a TMS protocol of 20-minute sessions twice a week. The total scores obtained by the participants in the MOCA test at previous and post-intervention 19.43±3.71 and 21.30±4.25 demonstrated a significant improvement. We also observed an improvement in the attention, memory, and naming subtests: 3.20±1.49; 2.10±1.63; 2.10±1.63 in contrast to 3.77±1.48; 2.97±1.88; 2.67±0.61 in the previous and post-intervention periods, respectively (p <0.05). These results suggest that TMS can improve general cognitive performance, particularly in attention, memory, and naming tasks in post-stroke patients.
Publisher
Psicologia e Saude em Debate