Early results from a study published in the online edition of Sleep suggests that people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a sleep disorder have an increased risk of developing dementia. The study of more than 700,000 people was conducted by the Kite Research Institute, the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and one of the principal research institutes at the University Health Network.
The study involved a province-wide cohort of all adult patients who were free of dementia when admitted to the emergency department of the hospital with a diagnosis of TBI between May 2003 and April 2013. The total number of patients admitted was 712,708 who had TBI of all severities. Their median age was 44 years, and 59% were male.
Advertisement
The study conclusively showed that over a median follow-up period of 52 months (four years), TBI patients with a diagnosed sleep disorder were 25% more likely to develop dementia.
When separated by sex, the results were similar. In men with TBI, having a sleep disorder was associated with a 25.5% increase in the risk of incident dementia, and in women with TBI and a sleep disorder, the risk was 23.4%. Analyses controlled for age, sex, injury severity, income level, and known comorbidity risks.
Lead author and primary investigator Dr. Tatyana Mollayeva said, “Our study’s novelty is its confirmation of sleep disorders’ association with incident dementia in both male and female patients, independently of other known dementia risks. We are also the first to report on the risks that sleep disorders and other factors pose separately for male and female patients with TBI.”
An Umbrella Term
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of related symptoms which surface when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. It is the loss of cognitive functioning, thinking, remembering, and reasoning. Behavioral abilities are also distorted to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. These functions can include memory, language skills, visual perception, problem-solving, self-management, and the ability to focus.
Dementia is a disease that is rising in society worldwide, so research is vital for treatment and prevention. This study helps to outline the strong links to the incidence of dementia in both sexes and suggests a need for more targeted sleep disorders risk awareness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
