Media Release
July 15 2011
Exercise supports brain repair for stroke victims
Research
results from a study being conducted at UniSA show that for stroke
victims, exercising as little as once a week can improve both memory and
the ability to process information quickly.
Dr Michelle McDonnell, from the
Sansom Institute for
Health Research, has recently completed a study investigating the
effect of regular aerobic exercise on thinking and memory skills in
people following stroke.
“We were testing the notion that exercise is not only good for the body
but also the brain and the results have been very promising,” Dr
McDonnell says.
“We studied the ability to do things like remembering words or adding up
numbers in people who had suffered a stroke and were taking part in
regular exercise. Over the five month period of the study we have found
solid evidence of improvements in memory and information processing for
those participants engaged in regular exercise.”
Part of a larger study, Dr McDonnell’s work is being undertaken in
conjunction with the Centre for
Physical Activity in Ageing at
Hampstead
Rehabilitation Centre, investigating the benefits of exercise for
people following stroke.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in Australia, with more than
300,000 Australians living with this devastating type of brain damage.
In addition to problems with walking and talking, more than two-thirds
of people following stroke also have problems with thinking and memory
skills.
Dr McDonnell says that exercise may have a powerful effect on the
brain’s ability to repair itself following brain damage by increasing
circulation and altering connections between the nerves that are
interrupted by a stroke.
“We believe exercise might actually encourage re-wiring of the brain so
we’re keen to continue our research with people who have suffered a
stroke,” she says.
Dr McDonnell is leading the study to investigate the effect of exercise
on the brain and is looking for adults aged between 45 and 80 who have
suffered a stroke to take part in further research.
More information about the study is available from Dr McDonnell, tel
(08) 8302 1684.
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au