Amphetamines Help Stroke Patients Regain Speech

A study has demonstrated that stroke patients with aphasia recover more speech and language faster if given low-dose amphetamine half an hour before speech-language therapy. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (USA), and the findings were reported in the September 7, 2001, issue of Stroke.

The researchers studied 21 patients with aphasia caused by stroke, 16-45 days following onset. All patients received speech and language therapy in 10 one-hour sessions over five weeks. Some patients received dextroamphetamine 30 minutes before each speech-therapy session, and some patients received a placebo before their sessions. The patients who received the dextroamphetamine regained their speech at a faster rate than the patients who received a placebo. No adverse reactions were noted. The researchers note that the recovery is not due to the amphetamine alone but to the combination of amphetamine with therapy.

The drug may work by releasing a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline, which may help a stroke patient's brain cells to be alert and more responsive. Noradrenaline is known to be involved in memory. "Aphasia is one of the most common side effects of stroke, and it is caused by a direct injury to the language center in the brain,” said Dr. Hal Unwin, associate professor of neurology at UT Southwestern's stroke program. "Speeding up the patients' rate of recovery is vitally important.”



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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center