The Neurological Department of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Delhi) are exploring music therapy as a potential solution to combat Aphasia caused by stroke. Aphasia refers to the loss of language function and can occur in 21-38% of acute stroke patients. Early speech and language rehabilitation can aid in better recovery for these patients. However, India lacks similar adaptive strategies for patients suffering from Aphasia.
Therefore, AIIMS, in collaboration with IIT-New Delhi, is conducting a study on the customization and adaptation of treatment strategies for the recovery of global speech and language functions. The treatment will be provided free of charge to the patients under the ICMR-funded study.
According to the World Stroke Organization and the Lancet Neurology Commission, stroke is a highly preventable and treatable condition that could lead to nearly 10 million deaths annually by 2050, primarily affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The collaborative effort has published four research papers emphasizing pragmatic recommendations to reduce the stroke burden globally. The report published in the esteemed Lancet Neurology journal underscores that stroke deaths are expected to surge from 6.6 million in 2020 to a daunting 9.7 million by 2050. It is estimated that the contribution of stroke deaths in LMICs will increase from 86% to 91% by 2050.
