WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Help for stroke survivors

They are the number one cause of adult disability in the country and the third largest killer. Each year, more than 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke. And when they strike the right side of the brain, it's the left side of the body that's affected-- the side that controls a person's visual and spatial skills. Some people can't even find their own left hand.

"It also makes it difficult to come back from a stroke, to rehabilitate. If you can't recognize that you have a problem it's difficult to work toward a solution," said Dr. Mark Gorman, a neurologist at UVM-FAHC.

Solutions have so far been limited, but now a new study shows magnets may help stimulate the brain to heal faster.

"This technique-- transcranial magnetic stimulation-- actually does not involve medication. What it is, is taking a magnetic coil that's slightly larger than one's hand, placing it in the area over the scalp and turning it on. Basically it will introduce a magnetic field that creates electrical activity under the coil and so in that way it stimulates the brain externally," Gorman said.

It was a small study, but overall participants who received the magnet therapy improved about 16 percent immediately following treatment. Two weeks after treatment-- even better. Doctors saw a 22 percent improvement. They say the electricity helps balance out activity on both sides of the brain after one side gets overloaded following a stroke.

"Absolutely it's very exciting. You have to remember this was more or less a small exploratory study and so it involved 20 patients, 10 of whom actually received the TMS therapy, but it's very exciting and especially something that doesn't involve medications and can be done relatively easily. So I bet it will spur a lot of activity in the area," Gorman said.

A dose of hope for those who suffer and survive the third largest killer in the country. A new therapy to treat stroke-related disability.

Fletcher Allen Health Care is a nationally designated primary stroke center. The hospital sees approximately 500 stroke victims every year.