Trial to address disabling cognitive condition affecting stroke survivors to begin
A major new trial will test the efficacy of a new therapy for a disabling post-stroke condition that affects around 1 in 3 survivors.
The study has received £1.26m funding from the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme. The EME Programme is a partnership between the NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC). The study is being led by researchers at the University of East Anglia.
No effective treatment
A stroke is caused by blood supply being cut off to part of the brain, killing brain cells. This can affect the brain's ability to interpret information. In some cases, this can make the stroke survivor lose attention to things on one side of their body. This means that even if they have good eyesight, their brain does not process the information it's getting from the impaired side. This results in a disabling cognitive condition called spatial inattention or spatial neglect.
There is currently no effective treatment for spatial inattention. People affected by it often have poor recovery and long-term disability. However, in earlier small trials, a new therapy called SIGHT (Spatial Inattention Grasping Therapy) showed promise in improving the condition.
Trial lead Dr Stephanie Rossit, from UEA's School of Psychology, said:
“There are 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK, with an estimated 390,000 of those suffering from spatial inattention. The condition can be highly persistent with 40% of stroke survivors continuing to experience symptoms a year post-stroke. Currently there is no effective treatment for spatial inattention. This new trial is helping to fill the gap in the urgent search for successful treatments.
“We’re delighted that the MRC-NIHR have funded this study, which is the largest study of a spatial inattention therapy to take place anywhere in the world.”
SIGHT requires those suffering from spatial neglect to grasp and balance rods with their less affected hand. Because of the condition, the rods tilt during the first attempts. However, feeling and seeing the rod tilt improves performance, which in turn increases attention to the impaired side.
The study will also explore why some people benefit more from therapy than others. To help identify who might benefit most, the trial will measure grasping, vision, cognition, stroke severity and brain structure and function.