Brain injuries lead to sleeping problems, research suggestsRSS Feed

Brain injury sufferers have trouble sleeping because of reduced levels of a hormone that regulates their biological clock, according to a new study.

Researchers at Monash University in Australia found that people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury had lower levels of the hormone melatonin which controls sleep patterns.

Participants in the study who had suffered a brain injury took longer to fall asleep than non-brain injury patients and spent more time awake after falling asleep.

Dr Shantha Rajaratnam, who led the study, said: "These results suggest that the brain injury may disrupt the brain structures that regulate sleep, including the production of melatonin.

"Future studies should examine whether taking supplemental melatonin can improve sleep in people with brain injuries."

A brain injury can cause damage to hormone regulators in the brain such as the pituitary or hypothalamus glands, according to the charity Headway.

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