Effects of Physical Activity on Recovery after a Transient Ischemic Attack
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to conduct research on patients recovering from a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) event. The main objective of the research was to develop insights into the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition after TIA. While exercise has been known to have positive benefits on recovery for stroke patients, very little research has sought to understand how this may differ with TIA patients. TIA events are caused by the same factors as a stroke, such as a blockage in blood flow to the brain. TIAs differ in that symptoms of facial drooping and slurred speech may only last 1-3 minutes and rarely persist beyond that of a few hours. For this reason,TIAs are often referred to as "mini strokes" and have been studied extensively due to their identification as a strong predictor for future strokes. Using surveys and tests such as The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test, Cognitron platform, and Godin Physical Activity Questionnaire, the relationship between aerobic exercise and recovery after TIA is to be uncovered.
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