Background: Language is not a neutral instrument in geriatric neurorehabilitation. The terminology clinicians use to describe neurological damage—paralysis, deficit, invalidity—acts directly upon cognitive, motivational, and affective circuits that shape recovery capacity in older adults. This impact is particularly pronounced in the aging brain, where neuroplasticity relies heavily on emotional engagement and contextual relevance. Emerging clinical evidence suggests that words themselves function as neuromodulators, influencing cortical reorganization and behavioral adherence in elderly populations. Objectives: This article introduces the concept of the neurolexic effect in aging rehabilitation, proposing that medical language exerts measurable effects on neuroplasticity through cognitive-emotional coupling and contextual modulation. Building upon previous work on neuroplastic medicine and linguistic reframing, this model conceptualizes language as a prescribable nonpharmacological therapeutic agent within geriatric rehabilitation medicine—addressing both age-related neuroplastic challenges and psychological barriers to recovery. Methods: Five clinical vignettes featuring older adults (65 to 85 y) from European (Marseille, Vitry-sur-Seine) and African contexts (Bafoussam, Foumbot, Douala) illustrate 4 interrelated mechanisms: the neurosemantic coupling hypothesis (NCH), therapeutic linguistic plasticity (TLP), sociolexical determinism (SLD), and the neurolexic intervention model (NIM). Each vignette demonstrates how age-appropriate terminological choices modulate engagement, emotional valence, and neurofunctional outcomes in elderly patients. Results: Across diverse geriatric settings, linguistic reframing systematically enhanced motor engagement (mean increase: 55%), therapeutic adherence (mean increase: 38%), and psychosocial reintegration among older adults. Age-appropriate verbal prescriptions, culturally adapted expressions, and emotionally resonant phrasing activated motivational loops that sustained functional recovery despite age-related neurobiological constraints. Preliminary neuroimaging data (case 3) revealed synchronized activation of dorsolateral prefrontal and limbic structures during emotionally resonant verbal cues, demonstrating preserved neurolexical responsiveness in the aging brain. Conclusions: Medical terminology is not merely descriptive; it is neuroactive—particularly in geriatric populations where cognitive-emotional processing influences recovery trajectories. Integrating the neurolexic effect into post-stroke rehabilitation for older adults represents a paradigm shift—transforming language from a diagnostic instrument into a therapeutic vector of neuroplastic change appropriate for aging brains. This nonpharmacological approach enhances traditional rehabilitation practices while addressing age-specific motivational barriers and can be implemented across diverse health care settings regardless of resource availability.
Moumeni et al. (Wed,) studied this question.