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. 2019 Aug 19:11:131-140.
doi: 10.2147/NSS.S182158. eCollection 2019.

Impact of traumatic brain injury on sleep: an overview

Raissa Aoun  1 , Himanshu Rawal  2 , Hrayr Attarian  3 , Ashima Sahni  4
Affiliations

Impact of traumatic brain injury on sleep: an overview

Raissa Aoun et al. Nat Sci Sleep. .

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health problem that affects millions of civilians, athletes, and military personnel yearly. Sleeping disorders are one of the underrecognized sequalae even though they affect 46% of individuals with TBI. After a mild TBI, 29% of patients have insomnia, 25% have sleep apnea, 28% have hypersomnia, and 4% have narcolepsy. The type of sleep disturbance may also vary according to the number of TBIs sustained. Diffuse axonal injury within the sleep regulation system, disruption of hormones involved in sleep, and insults to the hypothalamus, brain stem, and reticular activating system are some of the proposed theories for the pathophysiology of sleep disorders after TBI. Genetic and anatomical factors also come to play in the development and severity of these sleeping disorders. Untreated sleep disturbances following TBI can lead to serious consequences with respect to an individual's cognitive functioning. Initial management focuses on conservative measures with progression to more aggressive options if necessary. Future research should attempt to establish the effectiveness of the treatments currently used, as well as identify manageable co-existing factors that could be exacerbating sleep disorders.

Keywords: TBI; neurobiology; sleep; sleep disorders; traumatic brain injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Management of advanced sleep–wake phase disorder.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Management of delayed sleep–wake phase disorder.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Management of irregular sleep–wake phase disorder.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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