Motivation in veterans with an acute/subacute ischemic stroke did not improve cognition and functional motor recovery but reduced deaths.
Meheroz H Rabadi, Chao Xu
PMID 39679796WHAT IT FOUND
Veterans with higher motivation showed no better motor or cognitive recovery than those with lower motivation.
However, the less motivated group had significantly more deaths. Do not assume low motivation predicts poor functional gains, but consider it a potential mortality risk marker.
Key findings
01Level of motivation did not impact cognitive or physical functional improvement in veterans with acute/subacute stroke.
02There were significantly more deaths in the less motivated group compared to the motivated group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single center, which limits generalizability. The sample size of 125 veterans may have reduced the statistical power to detect subtle associations. The participants were predominantly non-Hispanic white men receiving high-quality subsidized care through the Veterans Health System, so findings may not apply to the general population or other demographic groups. The study excluded patients with aphasia or confusion, so it does not address those populations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with any financial organization.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of functional benefit from high motivation as evidence that motivation is irrelevant. The significant difference in mortality suggests that low motivation is a serious health risk marker, even if it does not directly hinder the rate of physical or cognitive recovery during rehabilitation.