These types of stroke represent 85 percent of all strokes, with the rest of the cases due to bleeding within the brain. It is known that physical therapy within the first 60 days after a stroke can improve such functional abilities as walking, as well as arm and hand movements, Goldstein said. The researchers plan to time the ingestion of the amphetamines so that peak levels of the drug will be circulating through the bloodstream during the actual physical therapy. Somehow, the amphetamines seem to help in the relearning process. While brain cells generally do not regenerate in adults, they are very dynamic and under the right conditions are subject to changes in performance.
Amphetamines are a class of drugs that stimulate the central and peripheral nervous systems.
It is known that amphetamines stimulate the brain to release several chemicals called neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, that can aid the passage of information between nerve cells. The trial will have two phases. If little improvement is seen in the first phase, the second phase will involve adjusting the dosage of amphetamines and the duration of the physical therapy. However, if clear improvement is seen during the first phase, the second phase will involve changing the timing of physical therapy sessions to see if the benefits can be achieved more quickly. Researchers plan to enroll 65 patients into each phase of the trial.