Therapy prospects for post-stroke aphasia

Stroke remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. Cognitive impairment is a major consequence, with post-stroke aphasia developing in approximately 30% of patients after a first stroke. Speech impairments substantially reduce quality of life, complicate rehabilitation, and hinder reintegration into daily activities. Patients with aphasia exhibit greater cognitive deficits and an increased risk of vascular dementia, regardless of stroke type. Speech therapy is a primary treatment modality. Neuroplasticity is central to post-stroke recovery, and agents that stimulate neuroplasticity represent a promising therapeutic direction. Cerebrolysin, a pleiotropic drug composed of peptides with neurotrophic properties and free amino acids, can activate neuroplasticity. Recent findings from the Efficacy and Safety of Cerebrolysin in the Treatment of Aphasia After Acute Ischemic Stroke study (ESCAS) demonstrate that combined speech therapy and Cerebrolysin use accelerates recovery of speech functions, suggesting its value as an adjunct in stroke rehabilitation.