Study Reveals Persistent Sleep Issues and Hormonal Changes After Mild Brain Injury

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), often referred to as a concussion, is a common neurological injury that frequently leads to a constellation of symptoms, including persistent sleep disturbances. These sleep problems can significantly impair recovery and quality of life, contributing to post-concussion syndrome. Despite their prevalence, the underlying mechanisms and objective biomarkers for persistent sleep problems after mTBI remain poorly understood, hindering effective diagnosis and treatment.

At 6 months post-injury, the mTBI group exhibited significantly reduced sleep efficiency (72% vs. 85% in controls, p<0.001) and increased sleep latency (45 minutes vs. 15 minutes, p<0.001) compared to healthy controls. Total sleep time was also reduced by an average of 90 minutes per night in mTBI patients (360 minutes vs. 450 minutes, p<0.001). Hormonal analysis revealed 2.3-fold higher evening cortisol levels (p<0.01) and 35% lower nocturnal melatonin secretion (p<0.005) in the mTBI cohort. The mTBI group experienced a 25% reduction in total sleep time and 43% lower sleep efficiency compared to controls at 6 months post-injury, alongside significant hormonal dysregulation, indicating a clear physiological impact. Furthermore, lower sleep efficiency was strongly correlated with higher evening cortisol (r = -0.65, p<0.001).