New physical exercise study!

We are currently recruiting cohorts for a new Exercise Based Aphasia study! If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Aphasia after a stroke and wants to be a part of a new study that attempts to understand how different exercises can improve fitness, motor, cognitive, and language abilities. This novel research opens the door to new treatments for stroke recovery!

Who can join

You can take part if you:
– had a stroke and now have aphasia (language problems)
– can walk on your own (using a single-point cane is OK)
– can safely do regular exercise

Interested?

Want to be active and contribute to science? Check out our current study page to learn more!

The Aphasia Recovery lab newsletter is here!

Scroll through and see what we have been up to!

---

We are thrilled to announce that our team just received a new R01 grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) — R01DC022663; PI: Dr. Maria Ivanova. This exciting new project titled “Exercising language: Behavioral and neurophysiological changes after high-intensity exercise training in post-stroke aphasia” is a direct continuation of our prior work on exercise and aphasia. In this project we will explore how high-intensity physical exercise, a promising yet underutilized adjuvant intervention, can enhance language, cognition, brain health, and emotional well-being in stroke survivors with aphasia.

Building on the encouraging findings from our pilot work, the new grant will enable us to launch a large-scale clinical trial to:

---

Dr. Maria Ivanova took part in a panel discussion hosted by Stroke Onward, titled “Stronger Together: Community Programs Supporting the Emotional Journey in Recovery for People with Aphasia.” Panelists and audience members explored ways to engage people with aphasia in program design, expand facilitation models and peer-led groups, and build stronger partnerships across clinical, educational, research, and community settings. Through these collaborative discussions—and the actions that follow—the APEX Team aims to enhance quality of life and promote sustainable, inclusive support for stroke survivors with aphasia and their families throughout every stage of recovery.

We are currently recruiting participants with post-stroke aphasia for another study to explore the impact of exercise on language and cognitive outcomes.

You can participate if:

• have aphasia (language deficits) following stroke;

• were proficient in English before the stroke;

• are between the ages of 18 and 80;

• can walk on your own (single-point cane accepted);

• can participate in regular physical exercise.

Please contact us for more information and to find out if you can participate!

Dr. Maria Ivanova participated in the Moving Forward with Aphasia Benefit hosted by the International Aphasia Movement. She spoke to attendees about the APEX project and how new exercise interventions can impact aphasia recovery.

Dr. Maria Ivanova presented results from the pilot study of the HI-FIIV program in individuals with aphasia at the Clinical Aphasiology Conference in Waikoloa, HI.

Vanessa Anderson and Dr. Christian Thompson presented pilot data from healthy older controls completing the HI-FIIV program at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Boston, MA.

We have completed our first pilot study of the HI-FIIV program with people with aphasia. All the participants enjoyed the exercise classes and are eager to return to the gym for more high-intensity workouts! See Preliminary Findings for more details on the results of this study.