Abstract
Stroke patients often suffer higher brain dysfunction that impairs their quality of life. However, there is little evidence regarding effective medicines to address impaired higher brain function. We examined the effects of treatment with choto-san, an herbal medicine; ropinirole, an anti-Parkinson drug; and cilostazol, an anti-platelet agent on higher brain dysfunction after stroke. After administration of choto-san, patients had significantly improved Mini Mental State Examination and verbal fluency test scores. In event-related brain potentials, P3 latency was significantly shortened, and the amplitude was significantly larger, after choto-san administration. Patients receiving ropinirole therapy showed improved apathy scale and Frontal Assessment Battery scores, used to assess frontal lobe function in patients with frontal lobe ischemic stroke. Compared with the aspirin treatment group, the cilostazol treatment group exhibited significantly improved apathy scale scores. This study suggests that some medicines may be effective in addressing post-stroke higher brain dysfunction. Further study is necessary to characterize these agents.
