Modified environments may help children recover from traumatic brain injuries

Enriched environments have had a positive impact on the recovery of juvenile mice with traumatic brain injuries, leaving researchers hopeful that the same could be true for children.

 

Modifying the environment of young mice during their recovery period from a traumatic brain injury promoted an improved recovery, something researchers from Monash University say offers hope for treating the behavioural side effects which can accompany a childhood traumatic brain injury.

 

Published in Experimental Neurology, the study looked at how various environments (i.e. standard, environmentally enriched and socially enriched) impacted the recovery of juvenile mice with traumatic brain injuries. 

 

Lead author Larissa Dill and her team found that both enriched environments had a positive impact, with environmental enrichment improving sensory, motor and social abilities, while the social enrichment reduced hyperactivity and anxiety, features commonly associated with traumatic brain injury.

 

The findings, senior author Associate Professor Bridgette Semple said, highlight the importance of the post-injury environment to optimise outcomes for survivors of acquired brain injuries, particularly during early life. 

 

“This evidence can now be translated to inform and guide the design of rehabilitation programs and environments for young children who have an acquired brain injury and social behavioural problems,” she said.

 

The most common causes of childhood traumatic brain injuries are falls, traffic accidents (as a passenger or pedestrian), sports-related injuries, and non-accidental or abusive head trauma (formerly known as shaken baby syndrome). 

 

A debilitating consequence of traumatic brain injury and stroke is long-term social behavioural problems. Young children can become isolated and withdraw from social interactions, have difficulties with communication, may display inappropriate sexual behaviour, and may struggle to interpret or understand social contexts. Unfortunately, these problems can persist or worsen over time and result in life-long challenges.

 

When exploring existing studies in this space, the researchers noted a disconnection in the evidence base. In preclinical research, studies using environmental enrichment for social problems have shown promising results; however, high-calibre clinical studies are limited and lag behind preclinical ones, particularly for paediatrics.

 

“We identified a clear need for more research into ways to improve long-term social behaviour problems after traumatic brain injury and stroke,” Associate Professor Semple said.

 

The team are now calling for preclinical and clinical researchers to “more closely align their research programs to drive the field forward”. 

 

The team’s focus will now be on the implementation side and how the principles of environmental enrichment can be best enabled in clinical settings.

 

To access the findings, please see here.