TOPIC

Neurological research

Everything we have read on neurological. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,792 PAPERS · PAGE 50 OF 56 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Age Is Not the Limit-Functional Outcomes and Discharge Predictors in a Neurorehabilitation Cohort of Mixed Ages.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAge alone did not predict home discharge or functional improvement in this neurorehabilitation cohort. Instead, outcomes depended on comorbidity burden, baseline function, and length of stay. Do not exclude older patients from inpatient rehabilitation based on age.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Impact of a 2-Month Program of Eccentric Training on Plantar Flexor Structure and Function in Hemiparesis After Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEccentric training changed muscle structure and neural activation in stroke survivors but did not improve walking speed or strength. The intervention was feasible, yet functional outcomes remained null, so it should not be expected to enhance mobility on its own.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Prevalence and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRAdults with intellectual disabilities have very high rates of heart failure and stroke, but the numbers vary wildly across studies. Screening should not rely on medical records alone, as objective tests found far more cases. Treat these rates as a range, not a single number.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Understanding Cannabis Use After Spinal Cord Injury: A Canadian Survey Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHalf of surveyed Canadians with spinal cord injury had used cannabis, with pain and sleep the top reasons after injury. Most perceived it moderately effective, but the study did not prove it works. Clinicians should discuss risks and benefits rather than assume therapeutic value.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Functional Trajectory of Childhood Stroke in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildren with new stroke improved significantly in self-care, mobility, and cognition during inpatient rehab. However, those needing agitation medication started lower and gained less. Agitation management is a key predictor of functional recovery in this group.
• OTCohort2025Bridging Research and Practice: A Preliminary Detailed Analysis of Current Upper Limb Occupational Therapy Dose and Content in Publicly Funded Poststroke Rehabilitation.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationUsual OT sessions for stroke patients averaged 210 upper-limb repetitions. This exceeded previous reports but remained well below the hundreds of repetitions suggested by animal studies for optimal recovery. The study describes current practice volume without measuring whether this dose improved patient function.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025E-Cigarette Use Among Older Adults with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Relationship With History of Cigarette Smoking.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAbout 16% of adults with chronic spinal cord injury have tried e-cigarettes, and 4.9% currently use them. History of cigarette smoking and younger age were strongly associated with this use. Injury severity was not related to vaping.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Therapeutic Effects of Noninvasive Technology Modalities on Lower-Limb Motor Function in Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationResults for noninvasive stimulation in incomplete spinal cord injury are mixed. Motor scores and walking improved in some trials, but others showed no difference versus sham. Effects varied by technique and protocol, so no single modality can be recommended as standard care.
• PTOTOther2025Home-Based Gait Interventions for Adults with Stroke: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHome gait treatments for stroke vary widely, from apps to caregiver-led plans. Many studies showed walking improvements, but most were small or pilot trials. Most required clinic visits for setup or testing. Evidence is too mixed to recommend one specific home method over another.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of the Impact of Olfactory Training on Cognitive and Emotional Function in Individuals with Parkinson Disease.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSix months of sniffing four scents twice daily improved memory, thinking, and mood in people with Parkinson disease. The group doing the training scored better than controls on all these tests, though motor symptoms did not change.
• PTOTCohort2025Temporal Relationships Between Depression, Self-Efficacy, and Physical Activity in Individuals With Stroke.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAfter stroke, higher self-efficacy was followed by more steps only when depressive symptoms were low. Higher depressive symptoms were followed by lower self-efficacy. Steps were not followed by changes in mood or self-efficacy.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Robotics and artificial intelligence applications in neurorehabilitation: a bibliometric analysis (2003-2025).Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThe literature on robotics and AI in neurorehabilitation has grown rapidly since 2010, but remains heavily focused on stroke and exoskeleton design. There is little published research on Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, or paediatric populations, and the field lacks clinical validation data.
• PTOTCohort2026Quantitative clinical assessment of wrist proprioception with stroke survivors.Clinical rehabilitationA 10-trial wrist position sense test identifies impairment with 85.3% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity compared to the 20-trial version. Updated cut-off scores allow clinicians to confidently diagnose proprioceptive loss after stroke without adjusting for age, sex, or hand dominance.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Effectiveness of post-acute care for patients with cerebral vascular disease in Taiwan between 2014 and 2023: a narrative synthesis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTaiwan's post-acute stroke care, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and swallowing therapy, was linked to better function, fewer readmissions, and lower costs. Evidence is observational, so single components cannot be separated.
• PTOTRCT2026Visual and visual-proprioceptive training improve gait via sensory reweighting after chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationVisual-proprioceptive integration training improved comfortable gait speed by 0.08 m/s more than control. It also reduced step-length asymmetry by 28.3% more than control. Oculomotor training alone did not significantly improve gait speed or symmetry compared to control.
• PTOTRCT2026Immersive virtual reality upper-limb exercises in people with Parkinson's disease: an observer-blinded randomised controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationConventional upper-limb training improved hand function significantly more than immersive virtual reality, though both groups showed gains in arm function and dexterity. The VR system was usable and well-tolerated, but did not outperform standard therapy for the primary outcome.
• PTOTOther2026Latent profile analysis of social participation in stroke survivors with limb dysfunction: a mixed-methods study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineFour participation patterns emerged after stroke with limb dysfunction. 43.1% were cautious and 33.3% disengaged. In interviews, comparing life with the worst period after stroke was linked to rebuilding, while comparing with before stroke was linked to loss.
• OTOther2026Leveraging neural drive to assess hand motor function in individuals with chronic stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA wearable muscle sensor tracked hand nerve signals in seven people with stroke. Combined signal features predicted hand function scores well, but the study was too small to guide treatment. Do not change your practice based on these results.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Longitudinal Associations Between Physical Activity Behavior and Structural Brain MRI Features After Stroke: A Sub-Study From the Nor-COAST Project.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke survivors who walked more had brains that looked younger on MRI scans. Each extra 1,000 daily steps was linked to a brain appearing 1.15 years younger. This association held for both light and moderate activity, suggesting staying active may help preserve brain structure after stroke.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Improving dynamic balance in relapsing-remitting MS: insights from robotic-assisted rehabilitation therapy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBoth robotic-assisted and traditional balance training improved clinical balance scores equally. However, the robotic group showed superior recovery speed and trunk stability during dynamic perturbations, suggesting robots help train reactive balance better than standard exercises alone.
• OTSystematic Review2026Efficacy of non-invasive neuromodulation technologies in improving cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationNon-invasive brain stimulation improved MoCA and MMSE scores versus sham or conventional intervention in adults with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or stroke. Theta burst ranked best for cognition, tDCS for instrumental daily tasks, but effects were short-term and heterogeneous.
• PTOTCohort2026Evolution of bowel function and quality of life after spinal cord injury: a longitudinal registry and survey study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineBowel dysfunction remains a major burden for spinal cord injury survivors, affecting over 70% at discharge and 51% years later. While quality of life generally improved over time, persistent bowel issues kept scores lower. Completeness of injury predicted bowel recovery, not treatment changes.
• OTCohort2026Patient satisfaction with hospital-based outpatient rehabilitation after stroke in Sweden and its association with life satisfaction and health-related quality of life: a longitudinal national register study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineMost stroke survivors rated hospital outpatient rehabilitation positively, and higher satisfaction with the rehabilitation process was linked to better life satisfaction and health-related quality of life at discharge and one year.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Cross-modal synchronization of EEG and ECG reveals hidden signatures of recovery in traumatic brain injury.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 11 comatose patients, heart-brain signal synchronization differed between outcomes. A new metric separated good from poor recovery with high statistical significance. This is a proof-of-concept algorithm, not a validated clinical tool, and cannot yet guide patient care.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Novel lower limb robot-assisted gait phase stimulation enhances walking and balance in stroke patients: a pilot trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients walking with assistance who received robot gait training with electrical stimulation timed to each gait phase walked faster and balanced better than those with conventional or sham stimulation. Improvements persisted five weeks after the three-week course ended.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Effectiveness of mirror and robot-assisted therapy for upper extremity rehabilitation in post-stroke patients: a meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationCombining robot-assisted and mirror therapy improved arm movement and daily independence in stroke survivors. The gains were large enough to be clinically meaningful. However, the evidence is moderate, mostly from Chinese trials, and long-term effects are unknown.
• PTOTRCT2026A bilateral upper limb interactive game-based virtual reality rehabilitation system for stroke patients: a usability and clinical study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a small pilot trial, a Kinect-based bilateral game system outperformed conventional therapy on arm function and coordination. Scores on the 66-point Fugl-Meyer scale rose from 30.18 to 39.27. The sample was tiny, so treat this as feasibility data, not proof.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Comparing inpatient stroke rehabilitation care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia in Australia.Clinical rehabilitationPatients with aphasia were more likely to have goals and care plans made without them, less likely to be assessed by a psychologist despite more mood impairment when assessed, and less likely to be independent or discharged home.
• PTOTOther2026A Streamlined 4-item Wolf Motor Function Test for Efficient Assessment of Upper Extremity Motor Function in Chronic Stroke Survivors.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairA 4-item version of the Wolf Motor Function Test matches the full 15-item score almost exactly. It takes far less time and equipment, making it a practical choice for tracking arm recovery in chronic stroke patients with mild-to-moderate impairment.
• PTOTOther2026A retrospective analysis of post-stroke rehabilitation with real world use of brain-computer interface.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost chronic stroke survivors with severe upper limb weakness improved enough on a motor scale to be considered clinically meaningful after using a brain-computer interface hand device. Improvement often happened within 12 weeks, though some needed longer. This was uncontrolled real-world data, so it does not prove the device caused the gains.
• PTOTOther2026Mirror Neuron System and Upper-Limb EMG Activity During Reaching Imitation in Stroke Survivors: Comparing Outcomes After Observing Normal vs. Aberrant Movements.NeuroRehabilitationStroke survivors showed stronger brain activation and increased supraspinatus muscle activity when imitating a reaching task after watching normal movements compared to aberrant ones. Therapists should prioritize showing correct movement patterns during action observation training.
• PTOTCase Report2026Lower limb functional electrical stimulation improves stair stepping in an individual with stroke: a case report.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationOne stroke survivor with an implanted leg stimulator climbed stairs faster and with more foot clearance when the device was active. He felt more stable and found the task less difficult. This single case suggests the technology can assist stair negotiation, but does not prove it works for others.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Establishing levels of arm-hand activities in stroke patients: the arm-hand-activities-scale (AHAS).Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe Arm-Hand-Activities-Scale (AHAS) is a quick, 5-category observational tool that reliably classifies arm function in stroke patients. It correlates strongly with standard measures, is easy for clinicians and patients to understand, and captures what patients actually do in daily life rather than just their maximum capacity.
• OTCase-Control2026EEG microstate features under visual feedback gain conditions exhibit high sensitivity in identifying early Parkinson's disease patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEEG patterns during a grip task with amplified visual feedback separated early Parkinson's patients from healthy controls perfectly in this small study. Independent testing is needed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026The Accuracy of the PREP2 Prediction Tool for Upper Limb Outcomes After Stroke as Part of Routine Clinical Care.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPREP2 predictions by clinicians missed the 70% accuracy target overall. It worked well for patients with a SAFE score of 5 or higher and those with no motor response to stimulation. Accuracy was poor for those needing stimulation who showed a motor response.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Reactive Balance Deficits Differ in People After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Chronicity of Self-Reported Symptoms.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairPeople with chronic dizziness after mild brain injury took longer to regain balance after a push than those with acute symptoms. Acute patients reacted more slowly but stabilized as fast as healthy adults. Balance strategies shifted from slow reaction to slow recovery as symptoms persisted.
• PTOTSLPOther2026The influence of upper extremity improvement on daily function in individuals with chronic stroke following task-oriented interventions: a structural equation modeling approach.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationImproving arm impairment alone did not predict better daily function in stroke survivors. Only faster task execution and less impairment directly predicted independence. Strength and movement quality helped daily life only indirectly, by making movements faster.
• OTRCT2026A Blinded, Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Neck Muscle Vibration in Patients with Post-Stroke Spatial Neglect.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairNeck vibration plus general computer training did not improve post-stroke spatial neglect more than standard neglect therapy plus placebo vibration. Both groups improved similarly on neglect tests and daily activities, so this small trial does not show vibration is superior.
• PTOTOther2026Does cognition affect supervised and unsupervised mobility differently in people with Parkinson's disease? A cross-sectional study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 105 people with Parkinson's, longer time on a word-colour interference test went with slower clinic walking and fewer home steps. After age, motor severity, sex and medication were included, cognition did not predict mobility.
• OTSLPPilot2026Ecological Momentary Intervention for Memory in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings From a Mixed-Methods Pilot and Feasibility Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationA text-message memory tool delivered in short, twice-daily sessions over a week led to significantly better long-term recall in adults with chronic TBI than a single weekly session. The spaced format was rated more acceptable and engagement remained high.
• OTSLPRCT2025Effect of Oral Neuromuscular Training on Tracheostomy Decannulation and Swallowing Function in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.DysphagiaNo clear difference in time to decannulation when IQoro was added to usual care for tracheostomized patients with severe acquired brain injury. Usual care alone improved swallowing scores more, and one residue measure favoured usual care.
• PTOTOther2026Beyond proportional recovery in wake-up stroke: unsupervised recovery clusters based on the NIHSS.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke recovery did not follow one proportional rule. Clustering 201 wake-up stroke patients by NIHSS recovery found six groups, from full recovery to worsening, and early recovery at 7 days was associated with 90-day disability.
• PTOTCohort2026Staying Active: Promoting Activity Engagement for Poststroke Pain Management With Insights From Ecological Momentary Assessment.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPoststroke pain rose during physical activity and hospital visits but dropped afterward. Social connection and workplace engagement also linked to lower pain. These small shifts may not be clinically meaningful, so do not assume activity alone will resolve pain without broader support.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Escitalopram promotes recovery from hand paresis in cortical sensori-motor stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled longitudinal study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEscitalopram plus occupational therapy improved fine finger dexterity and brain activation patterns more than placebo plus therapy over nine months in acute stroke. However, the study was tiny, so this is a signal for larger trials, not a reason to change practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Elevated autistic features in Parkinson's disease and other motor disorders.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic traits were elevated in both Parkinson's and other motor disorders compared to controls. The difference was specific to males; females showed no group differences. This suggests a broad link between motor conditions and autistic features, not one unique to Parkinson's.
• PTOTPilot2026Task complexity amplifies spatial asymmetry of muscle synergy plasticity in chronic stroke survivors.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn a small pilot, high-complexity tasks like drinking revealed greater muscle synergy asymmetry between stroke-affected and unaffected arms. This asymmetry correlated with worse motor function and higher spasticity, suggesting complex tasks may better detect impairment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Daily Temporal Associations Between Use of Psychoactive Substances and Fatigue, Pain, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in People With Multiple Sclerosis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationIn adults with MS, alcohol use lowered stress but increased fatigue. Caffeine reduced fatigue yet raised stress. Nicotine and cannabis increased fatigue. Opioid use was linked to higher average pain. Symptoms did not predict caffeine, nicotine, or cannabis use, suggesting habitual rather than reactive consumption.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Predicting effect and evaluating cost-effectiveness of a family intervention after acquired brain or spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineAn 8-week family intervention improved mental health and reduced anxiety and depression scores more than psychoeducation. It was likely cost-effective at 2 and 8 months. Benefits did not vary by injury type or whether sessions were in person or online.
• PTOTOther2026Effect of dual-task exercises on balance, risk for fall and activities of daily living dependency of patients with stroke: a quasi-experimental study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStroke patients completing 16 sessions of dual-task exercises showed significant improvements in balance, reduced fall risk, and greater independence in daily activities. Without a control group, natural recovery or other concurrent care cannot be ruled out as the cause.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Defining Severity Levels for Post-Stroke Upper Limb Motor Impairment and Activity Limitation: A Systematic Review.NeuroRehabilitationCurrent clinical language for post-stroke arm severity is inconsistent. Most studies use 'mild, moderate, severe' but define these terms differently, and cut-off scores on common tests like the Fugl-Meyer overlap significantly. This makes it difficult to compare patients or trials.