Description:

Yasin Dhaher, PhD
Research Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
Host: Professor Mark Johnson

Title:
“Beyond Convention: Investigating the Influence of Sex Hormones in Rehabilitation Medicine”

Abstract:
Nearly 20% of all stroke survivors are in their prime of life. Stroke in young adults may have significant long-term economic and social consequences, and the incidence of stroke in young women is rising. Between 1994 and 2007 the number of strokes increased by 17% in women age 15-34, and by 36% in women age 35-44 years of age. There is a great need for effective rehabilitation in this population, as younger age doesn’t mean greater improvement after discharge leaving 53% of young stroke survivors dissatisfied with their quality of life, naming motor impairment as a specific factor. Specific to women in their prime of life, a growing body of literature suggests that cyclically fluctuating hormone concentrations may modulate the excitability of cortical networks.
The goals/objectives of this talk are :
1. Highlight the systemic effect sex hormones have on the basic properties of the key constituents engaged in post stroke rehabilitation; the musculoskeletal system, the spinal and motor cortical structures.
2. Discussion on the implication of these findings to understanding injury and the design of effective rehabilitation therapies will be presented.