memory. It’s especially effective if you immediately repeat new information to yourself, in the same way repeating someone’s name back to them when they introduce themselves to you strengthens name recall.
Mnemonic devices such as rhymes and acronyms have also proven beneficial, and are created in the hippocampus, or the data storage center of the brain. Mnemonic devices ultimately help the brain recall and process larger blocks of information, in much the same way coaches tell their players to “R.I.C.E.” their injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
Since doctors regularly recommend exercise to help recovery from virtually every other kind of ailment, it stands to reason that it helps with the post-stroke healing process as well. Harvard Medicine studies claim that exercise boosts memory and cognitive function. Walking, step exercises, and reps with light weights help rebuild body mass and improve blood circulation.
Dr. Scott McGinnis, an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School repeated the findings of a study that “engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions.”
For the app enthusiasts, two speech-language therapists developed an app to help recovery patients access exercises on their phones or tablets called CT Speech & Cognitive Therapy. The app exercises both visual and auditory memory functions, perfect for ensuring continued success along one’s stroke recovery journey.