[Comparison of the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation and memantine on motor aphasia in ischemic stroke patients].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in improving chronic motor aphasia after ischemic stroke (IS) compared with memantine.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was conducted at the Urgench Rehabilitation Hospital in Urgench from February 2022 to May 2024. Patients with motor aphasia after IS were randomized into two groups.

UNLABELLED: Group 1 (n=30) received 10 sessions of a low-frequency (1 Hz) rTMS protocol. Group 2 (n=30) received memantine (initial dose 5 mg QD, increased to 20 mg QD) for eight weeks. The Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) was used for assessment before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Intra-group comparison before and after treatment in each part of the WAB score showed a significant increase in patients' scores in both groups (p<0.001). Compared to the memantine group, the low-frequency rTMS group showed more significant improvements in word repetition and naming objects (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Both memantine and rTMS improved verbal function in patients with post-stroke motor aphasia. Compared to memantine, TMS treatment was associated with a more significant improvement in repetition and naming.