TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of exercise, sleep, and diet on neurocognitive recovery from mild traumatic brain injury in older adults
T2 - A narrative review
AU - Markovic, Shaun J.
AU - Fitzgerald, Melinda
AU - Peiffer, Jeremiah J.
AU - Scott, Brendan R.
AU - Rainey-Smith, Stephanie R.
AU - Sohrabi, Hamid R.
AU - Brown, Belinda M.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for a large majority of traumatic brain injuries sustained globally each year. Older adults, who are already susceptible to age-related declines to neurocognitive health, appear to be at an increased risk of both sustaining an mTBI and experiencing slower or impaired recovery. There is also growing evidence that mTBI is a potential risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Lifestyle-based interventions are gaining prominence as a cost-effective means of maintaining cognition and brain health with age. Consequently, inter-individual variations in exercise, sleep, and dietary patterns could influence the trajectory of post-mTBI neurocognitive recovery, particularly in older adults. This review synthesises the current animal and human literature centred on the mechanisms through which lifestyle-related habits and behaviours could influence acute and longer-term neurocognitive functioning following mTBI. Numerous neuroprotective processes which are impacted by lifestyle factors have been established in animal models of TBI. However, the literature is characterised by a lack of translation to human samples and limited appraisal of the interaction between ageing and brain injury. Further research is needed to better establish the therapeutic utility of applying lifestyle-based modifications to improve post-mTBI neurocognitive outcomes in older adults.
AB - Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for a large majority of traumatic brain injuries sustained globally each year. Older adults, who are already susceptible to age-related declines to neurocognitive health, appear to be at an increased risk of both sustaining an mTBI and experiencing slower or impaired recovery. There is also growing evidence that mTBI is a potential risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Lifestyle-based interventions are gaining prominence as a cost-effective means of maintaining cognition and brain health with age. Consequently, inter-individual variations in exercise, sleep, and dietary patterns could influence the trajectory of post-mTBI neurocognitive recovery, particularly in older adults. This review synthesises the current animal and human literature centred on the mechanisms through which lifestyle-related habits and behaviours could influence acute and longer-term neurocognitive functioning following mTBI. Numerous neuroprotective processes which are impacted by lifestyle factors have been established in animal models of TBI. However, the literature is characterised by a lack of translation to human samples and limited appraisal of the interaction between ageing and brain injury. Further research is needed to better establish the therapeutic utility of applying lifestyle-based modifications to improve post-mTBI neurocognitive outcomes in older adults.
KW - Concussion
KW - Diet
KW - Exercise
KW - Mild traumatic brain injury
KW - Neurocognitive recovery
KW - Sleep
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103075480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101322
DO - 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101322
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33737117
AN - SCOPUS:85103075480
SN - 1568-1637
VL - 68
JO - Ageing Research Reviews
JF - Ageing Research Reviews
M1 - 101322
ER -