New Study Suggests That Better Sleep Could Speed Healing For TBI Victims

January 31, 2017 | Crandall & Pera Law
New Study Suggests That Better Sleep Could Speed Healing For TBI Victims

A new study from Canada could mean better results for victims of traumatic brain injury. The research, recently published in the journal Neurology, examined the sleep habits of 30 patients who had been hospitalized for moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) following an accident. The results from the University of Montreal are the latest findings that are helping to establish a firm link between good sleep and brain health.

An important discovery


From The National Law Review, “The findings in this study showed that as the brain heals, sleep patterns also improve. Gosselin’s theory is that it could work just as well in reverse order, i.e., if sleep patterns are normalized on a 24 hour cycle, neuron repair would be accelerated. Supporting this theory is an earlier study showing a link between cognitive rest and TBI symptoms.”

This link doesn’t just provide hope for TBI victims; it may be an important tool in the fight against neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Jeffrey Iliff, a brain scientist at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, told NPR, “’Changes in sleep habits may actually be setting the stage’ for dementia. The brain appears to clear out toxins linked to Alzheimer's during sleep.... And, at least among research animals that don't get enough solid shut-eye, those toxins can build up and damage the brain.”

Today’s problems, tomorrow’s solutions

While further research is needed, the findings at the very least indicate that regulating sleep can’t make a brain injury worse. If further studies confirm that the link between brain health and sleep works both ways, these results could become a powerful tool in the treatment of brain injuries and disorders. While research like this may ultimately find a cure for a damaged brain, the world we live in today offers only limited options for recovery.

For now, victims of TBI require extensive therapy, rehabilitation and other continuing care, all of which contribute to mountains of medical bills. Recovery and treatment options may not be immediately clear, and the future can be very uncertain. Experienced legal counsel isn’t an extreme option; sometimes, it’s the only way to protect your family. When you need us, the experienced Ohio and Kentucky traumatic brain injury lawyers at Crandall & Pera Law can fight for your family and help get you the compensation you need. For a free consultation, call our Ohio legal team at 877.686.8879, our Kentucky legal team at 877.651.7764 or contact us today.