New approach to the rehabilitation of post-stroke focal cognitive syndrome: Effect of levodopa combined with speech and language therapy on functional recovery from aphasia

ObjectiveFew studies confirm that pharmacological treatments support post-stroke recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combination of levodopa with language therapy improves aphasia rehabilitation.MethodsWe did a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in which twenty patients received levodopa before each language therapy session, and an additional 19 received a placebo. Language training was provided during a 3-week period. The efficacy variables were changes from baseline in Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) scores.ResultsPatients receiving levodopa experienced greater language improvement in verbal fluency and repetition, compared to patients receiving placebo. Improvement was particularly distinct in patients with anterior lesions.ConclusionsSupplementing language therapy with levodopa may improve recovery from aphasia in patients with frontal lesions.