Impact of cognitive rehabilitation interventions on memory improvement in patients after stroke: A systematic review.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a major cause of disability in patients who have suffered from a stroke, and cognitive rehabilitation interventions show promise for improving memory.

Aim: To examine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) and non-VR (NVR) cognitive rehabilitation techniques for improving memory in patients after stroke.

Methods: An extensive and thorough search was executed across five pertinent electronic databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; MEDLINE (PubMed); Scopus; ProQuest Central; and Google Scholar. This systematic review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guideline. Studies that recruited participants who experienced a stroke, utilized cognitive rehabilitation interventions, and published in the last 10 years were included in the review.

Results: Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. VR interventions significantly improved memory and cognitive function (mean difference: 4.2 ± 1.3, P < 0.05), whereas NVR (including cognitive training, music, and exercise) moderately improved memory. Compared with traditional methods, technology-driven VR approaches were particularly beneficial for enhancing daily cognitive tasks.

Conclusion: VR and NVR reality interventions are beneficial for post-stroke cognitive recovery, with VR providing enhanced immersive experiences. Both approaches hold transformative potential for post-stroke rehabilitation.