When Someone Injures Their Brain, Healing May Also Depend on the Time of Day

Sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the last thing anyone wants to happen in their lives. It can have long-lasting (and even permanent) effects and disrupt a survivor’s life significantly. Recently, there have been some breakthroughs in treating a TBI, with one option showing an interesting promise.

It was recently postulated that an injured brain’s capability to heal may hinge on the time of day. This story first appeared in an eNeuro journal.

The study found that a brain cell can renew itself while regulating circadian rhythms. This is important because it provides a closer look into how the human body’s internal rhythm clock might speed healing in the wake of a TBI. According to Washington, D.C.’s Children’s National Hospital researchers, it is likely that further research and exploration may reveal new ways to treat brain injuries.

“This would be a significant breakthrough,” said Austin traumatic brain injury attorney, Brooks Schuelke,  “because TBI affects approximately 2.8 million Americans every single year – including 630,000 kids.” These individuals are managed with rehabilitation and supportive care, but there are few, if any, targeted treatment options available. 

The most important finding from this study revealed that the body’s cells follow a 24-hour rhythm, which is driven by an individual’s genes. This is commonly referred to as the circadian clock or circadian rhythm. 

The latest scientific discovery showed that a newly discovered brain cell – the NG2-glia – also syncs with a circadian rhythm. It also turns out to be a rare cell type that continually renews itself throughout adulthood. “But the most exciting finding was the cell type generated in the first week after brain injuries,” explained Schuelke.

Translated, scientists have found evidence that the molecular circadian clock regulates the NG2-glia to multiply when resting and in the wake of a serious injury. In other words, researchers are discovering that cell renewal is coordinated with the time of day as well as other factors. Knowing and understanding this could open doors for Americans who sustain a TBI and are trying to recover and regain a relatively normal life after a head injury.

“This would be a significant breakthrough if it can be harnessed,” Schuelke said, “and would help the approximately 69 million people globally who have sustained mild concussions to serious head injuries resulting in a lifelong disability or possible death.” In America, TBIs are the leading cause of death in those under the age of 45. Those who survive may be left dealing with cognitive, physical, and psychological disabilities.