Frontiers in Neurology

BackgroundAdapted dance is a promising rehabilitation intervention for physical and psychosocial impairments in people with chronic stroke. However, in-person attendance is hindered by limited community ambulation, transportation, and schedule conflicts. At-home participation with a live-streamed dance program could address these issues, but psychosocial benefits may be diminished because of reduced social interactions. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety...

Executive dysfunction affects nearly 50% of individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), yet interventions targeting the underlying neural mechanisms remain limited. This study examined whether aerobic exercise modulates functional connectivity to improve executive function in individuals with mild TBI and identified the neural pathways mediating these improvements. In this secondary analysis of a 12-week pilot randomized controlled trial, participants with mild TBI (n=24) were randomized to...

BackgroundDespite recommendations in clinical guidelines, clinical experience indicates that engagement with splints and orthotics varies amongst people after stroke. ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to understand the factors that influence engagement with splints and orthotics in people after stroke. MethodsPeople after stroke who had been wearing a splint or orthotic (also known as devices) for at least 2 months under the care of one Community Neurosciences Team in the UKs National Health ...

Centre of mass (COM) is a key measurement used to assess balance and mobility. Marker-based motion capture systems have traditionally been used to measure COM, but they are time-consuming and prone to marker error. Markerless motion capture systems offer a potential alternative, reducing setup time while maintaining accuracy. The ease of collecting markerless data may be particularly beneficial when study participants have limited mobility, such as those with stroke. This study aimed to determin...

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly sports- and recreational activity related mild TBI (mTBI), is common in young adults and can be followed by persistent attentional and executive complaints. This study investigated chronic ([≥]6 months post-injury) structural brain alterations in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) and their associations with self-reported inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, with a focus on sex-differentiated patterns. Structural brain properties in gr...

BackgroundSedentary behavior is highly prevalent following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and compounds existing risks for cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and affective disorders. The cognitive and behavioral sequelae of TBI, including impaired decision-making, blunted reward processing, and cognitive fatigue, create particular barriers to adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle. Despite this, effective behavior change interventions targeting physical activity in community-dwelling TBI sur...

Repetitive head impacts (RHI) from contact and collision sports have been associated with later-life cognitive and neurobehavioral impairments, as well as neurodegenerative conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). RHI-associated clinical sequelae among female former soccer players, specifically, are not well understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship of RHI exposure proxies (e.g., total years of soccer play, highest level of play, and estimated cum...

BackgroundSuccessful recanalisation without functional independence is a frequent phenomenon following endovascular thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke. AimTo demonstrate safety and efficacy of adjunct tirofiban therapy after endovascular thrombectomy in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke achieving successful recanalization defined as modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 2b-3. DesignThe study of adjunct tirofiban treatment after successf...

AIMExecutive functions (EF) are advanced cognitive processes that play an essential role in daily functioning and may be of increased importance in cerebral palsy (CP), given the complexity of primary and associated impairments. This study aims to synthesize existing evidence on the relation between EF and domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in individuals with CP, and to quantify the magnitude of these associations through meta-analysis. METH...

ImportancePrognosticating functional independence after an acute stroke is critical for anticipatory guidance and rehabilitation planning. Here we demonstrate that poor brain health at the time of incident stroke is linked to worse functional outcomes for women compared to men. ObjectiveTo determine if brain health at time of stroke presentation has a differential effect on functional outcomes between men and women. DesignRetrospective cross-sectional study. SettingAnalysis conducted in 2025 ...

Background: Platform trials are an efficient trial design which enable testing of multiple interventions simultaneously. They could advance knowledge of treatments for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to investigate the views of clinicians involved in stroke research on recruitment to a future platform trial for ICH. Methods: Between April and July 2025, we conducted a UK-wide online survey of clinicians actively involved in stroke research using convenience sampling through professiona...

BackgroundLarge middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarctions can result in life-threatening cerebral edema. Quantitative brain atrophy may improve risk stratification for severe edema. We examined whether quantitative brain atrophy is associated with severe midline shift after large ischemic stroke and whether incorporating atrophy improves prediction beyond established clinical and radiographic predictors. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational cohort study of patients with [≥][1/2] MCA ...

IntroductionThe 2024 McDonald criteria incorporate the central vein sign (CVS) and paramagnetic rim lesions (PRL) as supportive imaging biomarkers for MS diagnosis. While susceptibility-weighted-imaging (SWI) and T2*-weighted echo-planar-imaging (EPI) are generally used to assess CVS/PRL, their relative performance remains unclear. This study compared high-resolution isotropic-T2*-EPI with non-isotropic SWI for CVS/PRL detection. Materials and MethodsIn this multi-centre study, 21 patients with...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive neurological disability and heterogeneous symptom trajectories. Current clinical monitoring methods, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and episodic neurological assessments, provide limited insight into subtle disease progression and functional changes. Digital health technologies integrating multimodal biosignals and behavioural assessments may enable continuous monitoring and personalised rehab...

BackgroundIn critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), rapid skeletal muscle atrophy frequently develops in the acute phase. This ICU-acquired weakness can significantly impair long-term physical function. Although the biceps brachii cross-sectional area (CSA) is commonly used to assess muscle atrophy, its ultrasound imaging can be technically challenging, and the flexor carpi ulnaris may offer a more accessible alternative. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whe...

BackgroundEndovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has transformed the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, a substantial proportion of AIS patients experience poor outcomes despite successful recanalization, often due to severe neurological deterioration or life-threatening complications. Early identification of these high-risk patients remains a major unmet need. In this study, we developed and validated machine-learning (ML) models that integrate automated quantitative cerebrovascular mo...

AbstractsO_ST_ABSBackgroundC_ST_ABSSelf-management is essential for stroke survivors to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce recurrence risk. Although theory-based self-management interventions are widely recommended, the theoretical frameworks underpinning them and their comparative effectiveness remain unclear. AimsTo systematically identify the theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) used in self-management interventions for stroke survivors, to explore how they guide interventions, and e...

BackgroundConventional evaluations of digital health interventions typically assess mean treatment effects, potentially masking heterogeneous impacts across the functional recovery distribution. Patients at the lower and upper tails of recovery trajectories may respond differently to AI-enhanced telerehabilitation, yet standard regression approaches cannot capture these distributional nuances. ObjectiveThis study applied Recentered Influence Function (RIF) quantile regression with Oaxaca-Blinde...

There are many alternative methods to joystick control for control of Electric Powered Wheelchairs for users with neuromuscular disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injuries, such as tetraplegia. However, these methods- which include the sip-and-puff method, head and neck movement, blinking, or tongue movement- hinder social interaction, and are therefore detrimental to user independence. In recent years, research has explored the use of Electromyography (EMG) signals from a...

PurposeIntracranial atherosclerotic disease-related large vessel occlusion (ICAD-LVO) presents distinct challenges, particularly regarding the high risk of reocclusion and the need for specific management strategies. While several prediction scores exist to differentiate ICAD-LVO from embolic LVO (EMB-LVO), their external validity remains unproven. We aimed to externally validate six established prediction scores for differentiating the two. MethodsWe analyzed data from a prospectively maintain...