PUNE: The Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, in association with neuropsychologist Dr Mangal Kardile, has started a unique Memory and Cognitive Rehabilitation Centre, the first-of-its-kind in Pune at the hospital.
The innovative programme includes BrainNext Tools developed by Dr Kardile, which will help rehabilitate people suffering from memory and cognitive deficits like epilepsy, developmental disorders, migraine, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, rare brain infections and diseases and trauma.
The innovative BrainNext concept has been recognised by the Indian Academy of Neurology and was recently conferred the first Neurorehabilitation Innovation of the Year Award 2019.
Explaining the concept, Dr Kardile said that memory and cognitive deficits arising due to varied reasons can be in various forms, including scholastic difficulties, behavioural problems, forgetfulness, difficulty remembering faces, places, locations, routes, aggression, frustration, depression and apathy, fluency in talking etc.
“The BrainNext tool kit comprises over 500 brain exercises divided into 18 sets and is designed to understand memory and cognitive impairment early. The same tools are used to correct the deficit. The tools are suitable for almost all age groups from six months and above to the elderly,” said Dr Kardile.
Dr Kardile added that the first step in this treatment includes cognitive testing using BrainNext testing sheets provided with each set after which the individual is trained providing suitable exercises.
“The exercises are given in the form of sheets made of a variety of cloth material and 3D acrylic boards. The exercises are according to individual requirements. We do take rehearsals of previous learnings and training on next steps based on individual acquiring capacity. The individual needs to do these exercises for a minimum of 2 to 4 hours with appropriate intervals. The rehab process may take three to five months depending on the individual and therefore patience is the key,” said Dr Kardile.
“The tool kit can be used by any non-clinical person, caregivers, hospital staff and is affordable, safe, durable and easy to use. Special tools have been developed for visually impaired patients focusing on other cognitive domains like audio, tactile, spatial, gustatory and olfactory,” Dr Kardile added.
Padma Vibhushan Dr KH Sancheti, Founder of Sancheti Institute of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation said that innovations by young doctors like Dr Kardile are appreciable.
“The fact that Dr Kardile is investing time in research to develop techniques using scientific methods will have a long-term positive impact. The need of the hour is to have treatments that are less complicated, less invasive and less costly so that everybody could be benefitted out of it,” said Dr Sancheti.
