Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Introduction: Exercise can improve thinking and memory in people with stroke, but we do not know if men and women improve to the same degree. This study examined if there were differences in thinking and memory between men and women with stroke after 6 months of aerobic or balance/flexibility exercise. Methods: Volunteers were randomly assigned to be a part of a 6-month aerobic exercise program or balance/flexibility exercise program. Thinking and memory skills were tested before and after the exercise program. Findings: Before exercise, women did better on a test of overall thinking ability. After exercise, women did slightly better in a memory test, whereas men showed no improvement. There were no differences in any other test. Conclusion: This was the first study to look at the differences between men and women with stroke in changes in thinking and memory after an exercise program. These findings show that exercise may be better for improving memory in women living with stroke, but not as much for men.