Drug May Aid Brain Function After Stroke

Taking a common antidepressant may help to repair thinking and memory functions after a stroke, a small study suggests. The 129 people in the study did not have depression. They were part of another study on prevention of depression after a stroke. Within three months after a stroke, they were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group took escitalopram (Lexapro), an antidepressant drug. Another group took placebo (fake) pills. The third group took part in a depression therapy program. After 12 weeks, the group taking Lexapro scored better than the others on tests of learning, thinking and memory. Researchers said the reason is unclear. They said the drug may promote changes in the brain, such as production of new cells. The study appeared February 2 in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. HealthDay and Reuters news services wrote about it.