Clinical trial shows “significant” improvement for stroke survivors using digital therapy

Constant Therapy Health, a US-based provider of digital therapy for stroke, dementia and traumatic brain injury survivors, has announced positive results of a 10-week clinical trial in using digital therapy to support stroke patients.
Stroke survivors using a research version of Constant Therapy (CT-R), a digital therapeutic application for cognitive and speech therapy, demonstrated “significantly” improved outcomes compared to traditional, paper-based therapies.
At the completion of the trial, patients receiving CT-R’s digital therapy demonstrated an average improvement of 6.75 points on the WAB Aphasia Quotient versus the control group, which showed an average improvement of 0.38 points.
This first-of-a-kind virtual clinical trial was conducted among stroke patients recovering from aphasia across the United States and Canada. The findings proving the efficacy of digital therapy were published in Frontiers of Neurology: Neurorehabilitation .
Patients in the experimental group used Constant Therapy-Research (CT-R) to receive evidence-based, targeted digital therapy based on their unique assessment profile and rehabilitation needs.
CT-R adjusts therapy difficulty automatically, progressing patients based on their task performance and neurological profile using its artificial intelligence based NeuroPerformance Engine (NPE). Patients in the control group completed standard of care (SOC) speech-language pathology workbook exercises.
According to Constant Therapy Health, this clinical trial also proved the viability of remote assessment and the effectiveness of a digital therapeutic treatment with post stroke aphasia patients, as all patients participated remotely from their homes.
“This is aligned with the ever-shifting needs of how people access care,” the company states.
Digital health solutions can also reduce geographic and other challenges that many individuals with aphasia and other neurological disorders face when seeking therapy.
Dr. Swathi Kiran, Constant Therapy Health Founding Scientist and Professor of Neurorehabilitation at the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University, said: “This trial demonstrates the power of digital therapy to enable stroke survivors to recover cognitive and speech abilities more effectively compared to traditional paper-based modalities.
“Its significance is heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic that has increased health risks and raised other barriers for patients needing this crucial therapy to continue their recovery journeys.”
Veera Anantha, Chief Executive Officer of Constant Therapy Health, added: “Post stroke survivors who often require sustained rehabilitation and communication practice, face significant burdens in accessing therapy due to shortages in qualified clinicians, insurance limitations and geographic access.
“Digital therapy removes these barriers and...