THE INFLUENCE OF INFARCT LOCATION ON RECOVERY FROM GLOBAL APHASIA

The influence of the anatomical location of the cerebral infarcts causing global aphasia on recovery was studied on a sample of 54 global aphasics with first-ever strokes imaged by computerized tomography. Lesions causing global aphasia could be grouped into five types, with different outcomes: type 1, large pre- and postrolandic middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarcts had a very poor prognosis, type 2 (prerolandic), type 3 (subcortical), type 4 (parietal) and type 5 (double frontal and temporal lesion) had a variable outcome, improving in general to Broca's or transcortical aphasia. Some cases with type 2 and 3 infarcts recovered completely. The best prognosis was observed in the subcortical group. Age and skull asymmetries had a minor influence on this pattern of evolution. Global aphasics have a variable potential for recovery, that should be taken into consideration when evaluating possible treatments for this severe language disorder.