Author(s) :

Suraj Namburi.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of neurological dysfunction and can lead to long-term cognitive impairment. While many studies focus on the immediate effects of injury, sleep disruption following TBI is a major and underrecognized barrier to recovery. Sleep plays a critical role in memory consolidation, neuronal repair, and metabolic waste clearance through the glymphatic system. Disruption of sleep, particularly slow-wave sleep, can impair these processes and contribute to ongoing neurological dysfunction. This review examines the pathophysiology of TBI, normal sleep physiology and the role of the glymphatic system in cognitive function. It also explores the prevalence of sleep disruption after TBI and its association with cognitive and emotional symptoms. Evidence from both human and animal studies suggests that impaired sleep is associated with neurological decline, while experimental studies support several biological mechanisms through which sleep disruption can influence recovery following traumatic brain injury. Targeted interventions aimed at improving sleep represent an important and modifiable factor in enhancing recovery following traumatic brain injury. The objective of this narrative review is to examine how sleep disruption following traumatic brain injury can impair glymphatic clearance and contribute to cognitive dysfunction and long-term neurological outcomes. By synthesizing evidence from human and animal studies published between 2007 and 2024, this review highlights potential mechanistic links and discusses the clinical relevance of improving sleep as a therapeutic target during TBI recovery.