Factors predicting post-stroke aphasia recovery.

Background: Aphasia is an important stroke sequel that impacts negatively on the HQoL of stroke patients. Although a number of stroke patients with aphasia will have good functional recovery, many are left with language deficits.

Method: Papers were identified through PubMed and MEDLINE search, with keywords such as: 'stroke', 'aphasia', 'post-stroke aphasia', 'factors that predict aphasia recovery', 'aphasia outcomes' and 'aphasia prognosis'.

Results: The most important factors that determine recovery are the lesion location and size, aphasia type and severity and to some extent the nature of early haemodynamic response, and treatment received. Anagraphic factors like gender, age, handedness and education have not been found to be robust predictors of recovery.

Conclusions: Predicting post-stroke aphasia recovery is difficult, because of the interplay between lesion, anagraphic, and treatment-related factors, in addition to the role of neuroplasticity.