Aphasia rehabilitation: a narrative review of adjuvant techniques

TL;DR

This review explores additional techniques used with language therapy to improve brain recovery in people with aphasia.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of adjuvant techniques and their mechanisms for aphasia rehabilitation.

Findings

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like tDCS and TMS show potential in enhancing neuroplasticity.

Aerobic exercise and pharmacotherapies may support language therapy outcomes in aphasia.

Intention treatment is identified as a promising adjuvant strategy for aphasia rehabilitation.

Abstract

Adjuvant techniques, or strategies that may be employed alongside language therapy for individuals with aphasia, are increasingly gaining attention for their ability to promote an enhanced brain environment for neuroplasticity. This narrative review describes active ingredients, mechanisms of action, potential modulating factors and evidence for efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS); aerobic exercise; intention treatment; and pharmacotherapies, including monoaminergic, cholinergic, glutaminergic, and nootropic medications that have been used in concert with language therapy for aphasia.