Cognitive impairment frequently occurs in stroke survivors. Cognitive functions include mental skills, such as solving problems, remembering information and thinking clearly.  

Fortunately, when a stroke damages the brain, the brain begins to heal itself. Neuroscientists refer to this feature as plasticity.

Plasticity means the brain can alter its structure and function. With regular, repeated brain stimulation, stroke patients can retrain their brains and possibly relearn abilities.

Cognitive therapy focuses on techniques that help improve a person’s thinking abilities. During cognitive rehabilitation, it’s common to work with a trained professional, such as an occupational therapist. There are many different methods and approaches for regaining cognitive function after stroke. The key is finding activities that you enjoy.  

A big part of improving the brain’s cognitive function is putting it to work over and over again. Rehabilitation therapy with a professional is helpful. You can also do many easy activities at home to increase your brain function.

Play a board game or put together a puzzle

Playing games can help improve mental ability and memory loss after a stroke. For example, board games like Monopoly help with problem-solving and strategizing. Card games also help challenge memory and attention and train fine motor skills.  

Jigsaw puzzles, brain teasers or word games, such as sudoku or crosswords, stimulate the brain by requiring abstract thinking.

Find online games on different devices

You can download many online brain games and apps to a laptop, phone or tablet. Some are specific for brain training. Using online games can help with both cognitive training and motor function movement.

Read and discuss

Reading or listening to a novel or short story can retrain the brain to pay attention and remember important details. You can also read out loud to practice your speech after a stroke. Try discussing or re-telling the story afterward to challenge your memory and practice critical thinking.

Listen to music

Listening to music is a helpful memory builder. Practice recalling information by singing or repeating the lyrics and verses in time to the beat. Music can be a fun, relaxing way to retrain the brain.

Do something creative, such as a craft

Research often links physical and mental improvement after a stroke. Using movement to stimulate your brain physically can also help your brain mentally. Hobbies like crafting (painting, drawing or making a paper sculpture) encourage problem-solving and abstract thinking. With crafting, you also need to plan what you want to do first, which is another thinking skill.

Although life after a stroke can be challenging, the brain’s plasticity means you can retrain it and possibly regain some of the skills you had before the stroke. The key is practice and repetition. There are many ways to sharpen cognitive skills, both at home and with a rehabilitation therapist or well-equipped rehab facility.

Some rehab facilities offer digital games and advanced rehabilitation technology as a form of therapy. Interactive games can be used to motivate patients to rebuild their cognitive function.

MYRO includes many cognitive programs such as finding symbols, connecting dots or painting and coloring which allow patients to escape the therapy routine.

Cognitive rehabilitation after a stroke can be fun. Find something you enjoy that involves thinking and devote time to it each day. With practice, your brain is more likely to recover.

Sources:

The effect of early cognitive training and rehabilitation for patients with cognitive dysfunction in stroke (2021)

Recovering from stroke (2021)

Memory loss (2019)

Aerobic, resistance, and cognitive exercise training poststroke (2015)