ESOC 2025 | A study exploring the association between physical activity and mental health in stroke survivors

Yeah, this study was a very interesting study that was designed and completed by our staff scientists, Dr Ajit Varmouri. The idea was to look at the level, meaning the intensity and also the duration of the physical activity and its association with mental health among stroke survivors. We know that physical activity is the best or one of the best strategies to prevent a secondary stroke and also it has a relationship with mental health. It was shown previously that physical activity can improve mental health in the general population and in this study our goal was to investigate this association among the stroke survivors. So what we did, we used again the CDC, the same CDC database from 2011 to 2019 and we studied the level of physical activity among the stroke survivors who participated in the CDC survey. What we found was that stroke survivors who had a physical activity level according to what the guidelines recommended had an average of three less days of poor mental health compared to stroke survivors who did not do the recommended level of physical activity. What we found in this population was a relative difference of 43 to 53 percent, depending on different ages and sexes and also different socioeconomic levels. Patients who were younger and also from a higher socioeconomic status benefited most from the physical activity. And the last part of this study that was triggered was to find the optimal dose of physical activity among stroke survivors with respect to their mental health. And what we found is that four to six weeks of moderate physical activity is probably the best dose to have the best mental health outcome among the stroke survivors.

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