Dr. Ana Inés Ansaldo, of the University Geriatrics Institute of Montreal, has revealed that it is possible for older patients with long-standing aphasia to improve their language functions.
Aphasia is a language disorder which is associated with a number of conditions. Affected persons may be unable to speak at all, or have a problem remembering words. Aphasia can develop after a stroke, or a head injury, or it could arise gradually, like dementia or brain tumours. It is very unlikely for a patient to recover their speech functions without going through therapy, and the recovery rate is affected by several different factors, including age and state of health.
This study has shown that a programme of intensive and specific language therapy will be beneficial to the cognitive function of seniors with aphasia, something previously thought unlikely. From neuroimaging, it was demonstrated that aphasic brains can be stimulated to use alternative circuits during language therapy, and the maintenance of these circuits led to recovery. In addition to this, the group has characterised the default mode network of the brain in these patients, which is the activity of the brain when it isn’t focused on a specific task. Language difficulties have been associated with abnormalities in the default network, shown to be reversed in patients who underwent therapy for their aphasia.
The study demonstrated the incredible potential for the brain to recover, even in old age and long after the trauma occurred. Dr. Ansaldo hopes that these results will help to change the way in which seniors with aphasia will be treated in the future, and that they will be provided with a specific and focused therapy without prejudice.
