This neuroscientist is using virtual reality to revolutionize stroke treatment

Tej Tadi, founder of medical startup MindMaze, is gamifying rehabilitation for stroke survivors – and the results are inspiring

Tej Tadi has always had one thing on his mind: the human brain. A neuroscientist, engineer and entrepreneur, Tadi’s innovative approach to stroke rehabilitation has earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of Fast Company’s most creative people in business in 2018.

After years working in hospitals, Tadi realized traditional treatments for stroke patients weren’t motivating or frequent enough to maximize potential for a full recovery. So in 2012, he created MindMaze, a neurorehabilitation company that uses virtual reality and neuroscience to repair broken connections in the brain, and retrain the body to move after a stroke. The technology has also been proven to alleviate symptoms of phantom pain in amputees.

“I’ve seen so much suffering, and patients missing out on so many things in life,” Tadi says. “With these technologies, I was able to quickly see how something like virtual reality could truly make a difference in a patient’s life.”

Because there’s such a short window after a stroke when the brain can bounce back, starting treatment early is critical. MindMotion Pro can be used in-hospital just four days after a brain injury, and studies found the training intensity of stroke patients using the device almost doubled in the first 10 sessions. Strokes are also devastating long-term, and Tadi found many patients had trouble motivating themselves once they were out of the hospital. With the portable MindMotion Go device, patients can start playing at home in just five minutes. Clinical research found patients motivated by the variety of goal-oriented games, and practiced up to 15 times more therapeutic exercises compared to traditional treatments.

By 2016, the start-up was valued at $1 billion, with the MindMaze VR technology making its way into hospitals across Europe and Asia. In-patient devices like MindMotion Pro, and portable devices like MindMotion Go, have already helped more than 1,300 patients. Receiving FDA approval in 2017, Tadi is preparing to launch MindMaze in the US, where strokes are the fifth leading cause of death. Recently, MindMaze also acquired Neuro Motor Innovations, a company that also utilizes game therapy as a complementary treatment for stroke patients.

Tadi sees MindMaze as more of a passion project, one he hopes will revolutionize the way patients relearn to move and think, while motivating them to take recovery into their own hands.

It’s so powerful for us to see how this can impact people’s lives in beautiful ways

Tej Tadi

The impact of strokes

• Every 40 seconds someone in the US suffers a stroke
• Almost every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke
• 2 million brain cells are lost each minute a stroke patient is left untreated
• Stroke patients treated within 90 minutes are three times more likely to recover with little to no disability
• In 2015, stroke deaths were the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 12% of deaths caused by strokes
• In 2017, strokes were listed as the fifth leading cause of death in the US
• 6.6 million Americans 20 years and older are stroke victims, according to the most recent available data from 2016
• $34 billion is how much is spent annually in the US on stroke care, according to a 2017 update from The American Heart Association

Testimonials: MindMaze in action

Andy Ibbott suffered a serious stroke in 2011. At age 46, Andy’s family was told he might not make it through the next 72 hours. For six months, he couldn’t walk or talk. Follow Ibbott’s journey of survival, and how MindMotion Go technology helped him achieve an impossible goal: running a six-day ultramarathon.

How can we support stroke patients and help further stroke research?

1. Donate: There are many organizations you can donate to, like The American Stroke Foundation and The American Heart Association, which help fund stroke treatments and research. Many universities also have research centers dedicated specifically to stroke research, like the Stanford Stroke Center.
2. Know the signs: The most critical part to surviving a stroke is catching it early. Doctors and experts like Tadi say prevention starts by watching for FAST: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911. Trouble walking, seeing, or sudden headaches can also be symptoms of a stroke.
3. Educate: The more you learn about strokes, the better you can prepare and protect yourself or a loved one. Strokes happen fast, and having knowledge on your side before a stroke strikes can save lives.
4. Volunteer: There are hundreds of stroke support groups across the U.S. You can volunteer, or just visit a local meetup to learn more about strokes and the people affected. You can visit The American Stroke Association’s national stroke support group registry to find a group near you.
5. Clinical Trials: If eligible, enroll in a clinical trial. Trial research is critical in determining what devices or medications are safe for people to use, many of which can be the difference between life and death.