Can the brain heal itself after a stroke? Research has shown that, yes, the brain does indeed have a remarkable ability to heal itself after a stroke. Thanks to this ability, called neuroplasticity, many people recover amazingly after a stroke.

However, although spontaneous recovery is possible, the brain does not usually heal itself. This leaves many stroke survivors wondering, “how can the brain heal itself after a stroke?” Consistent, repetitive practice of tasks that involve affected functions is the best way to encourage neuroplasticity and healing in the brain.

This article describes neuroplasticity after stroke and outlines how to activate this natural healing process in the brain. It will also discuss when neuroplasticity can lead to further stroke complications and how to avoid it.

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What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain due to a blockage in an artery (ischemic stroke) or a rupture of an artery (hemorrhagic stroke). When the blood supply is compromised, brain cells become deprived of oxygen, leading to severe cell damage and even death. Stroke treatment includes clot-busting medications and sometimes surgery, depending on the type and location of the stroke.

However, even if treatment is given quickly, the damage caused by a stroke can still cause various side effects, such as:

These symptoms can range from mild to severe in intensity, depending on the severity of the stroke. Fortunately, the brain after a stroke can completely or partially regain these functions thanks to the phenomenon of neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity: a mechanism for brain healing after stroke

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize neurons in response to learning or experience. Although neuroplasticity is constantly occurring in the brain, there are times when its effects are enhanced.

For example, the brains of babies and toddlers change rapidly as they learn from the world around them. Although adult brains cannot adapt as quickly, they are still constantly changing. There are even times when adults experience increased levels of neuroplasticity.

One such case is brain damage resulting from a neurological injury such as a stroke. While in the first weeks or months after an injury, the brain is able to adapt faster than usual due to increased neuroplasticity. Therefore, the first weeks or months after a stroke are crucial for recovery.

The brain is there possessed billions of neurons, each connected to up to 10,000 other neurons. The result is a network of over 100 trillion neural connections. These connections are pathways in the brain that retrieve and store information.

When a stroke occurs, part of the brain is damaged and many of these connections are destroyed. Loss of these neural connections results in loss of function. For example, when neural connections involved in movement are damaged, survivors may experience problems with movement.

However, damage does not have to result in permanent limitation of functionality. Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain can create new neural pathways. It can even transfer functions that were once located in damaged parts of the brain to new, healthy areas. This process allows survivors to regain lost functions after a stroke.

Although some people experience spontaneous recovery, the most effective way to activate neuroplasticity is through consistent and repeated practice. Therefore, it is important to regularly practice tasks that involve the affected functions to encourage neuroplasticity and help the brain heal after a stroke.

Activating neuroplasticity through repetition

In the past, scientists believed that the adult brain was static. This meant that after a certain stage of development, the brain was no longer able to adapt to change.

today though tests shows that the brain is always in a flexible state, even in old age. This flexible state can be called brain plasticity.

Studies have also shown this training focused on specific tasks and repetitive activities engages neuroplasticity and cause changes in the brain. Therefore, a key aspect of stroke rehabilitation is collective practice: performing exercises with high repetitions.

When exercises and activities are performed, the brain creates new pathways in response to the experience. These pathways make it easier for the brain to store and access information. When a specific task is repeated, the neural pathways associated with it are strengthened, making it easier to complete the task.

This explains why when someone first tries something new, such as playing a chord on the guitar, it feels slow and clumsy. But for the hundredth time, it becomes second nature. This is neuroplasticity in action.

Therefore, to restore lost functions after a stroke, stroke survivors should perform exercises related to specific exercises several times a day. This is essential if a person is working to improve speech, balance, memory, or other secondary effects of a stroke.

No matter what skills stroke survivors want to focus on, repetitive exercise can activate neuroplasticity and help the brain heal itself after a stroke. As new neural pathways become stronger, survivors regain lost functions.

Preventing learned disuse after stroke

Although neuroplasticity can help the brain heal itself after a stroke, the adaptive rewiring that occurs after a stroke is not always beneficial. When survivors perform exercises with poor form or consistently avoid tasks involving impaired function, maladaptive plasticity may occur.

For example, if a survivor is unable to use their right hand for daily activities, they may begin to use only their left hand regularly. However, if they continue to only use their left hand, their brain will eventually “forget” how to use their right hand. This leads to a condition called learned disuse and may result in permanent loss of function.

Therefore, therapists recommend incorporating restorative techniques into stroke rehabilitation programs. Restorative techniques teach survivors how to regain lost function, not just adapt.

Although using compensatory strategies to make up for lost function can temporarily improve independence, it does not activate neuroplasticity, which helps the brain heal after a stroke. Therefore, although it may be difficult, try to practice exercises and activities that involve impaired functions whenever possible.

If your right hand is weak, try to resist the temptation to do everything with your left hand and instead use your right hand as often as possible. If you can’t walk, regularly work on moving and strengthening your legs. If you are experiencing memory problems, try practicing remembering small, irrelevant pieces of information for short periods of time. Repeating the use of affected skills through task-specific practice is the best way to avoid learned disuse and promote neuroplasticity.

Rebuilding the brain to restore capacity after stroke

Stroke can cause loss of physical, cognitive and mental functions. By focusing on highly repetitive exercise and task-based training during stroke rehabilitation, stroke survivors can activate neuroplasticity and help the brain heal itself after a stroke.

By activating neuroplasticity through repetitive exercise, the brain is able to repair lost connections. This not only allows survivors to relearn certain activities, but also prevents neuronal atrophy and further loss of function.

There is always hope for recovery through neuroplasticity. While it may not happen overnight, the brain can heal from a stroke by activating neuroplasticity.