Abstract
Objective
Few studies confirm that pharmacological treatments support post-stroke recovery.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combination of levodopa with
language therapy improves aphasia rehabilitation.
Methods
We did a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in which
twenty patients received levodopa before each language therapy session, and an additional
19 received a placebo. Language training was provided during a 3-week period. The
efficacy variables were changes from baseline in Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination
(BDAE) scores.
Results
Patients receiving levodopa experienced greater language improvement in verbal fluency
and repetition, compared to patients receiving placebo. Improvement was particularly
distinct in patients with anterior lesions.
Conclusions
Supplementing language therapy with levodopa may improve recovery from aphasia in
patients with frontal lesions.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 09, 2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
