Journal article
Environmental enrichment may protect against hippocampal atrophy in the chronic stages of traumatic brain injury
Frontiers in human neuroscience, Vol.7, p.506
09/24/2013
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00506
PMCID: PMC3782701
PMID: 24093011
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the relationship between environmental enrichment (EE) and hippocampal atrophy in the chronic stages of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Design:
Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data; observational, within-subjects.
Participants:
Patients (
N
= 25) with moderate to severe TBI.
Measures:
Primary predictors: (1) An aggregate of self-report rating of EE (comprising hours of cognitive, physical, and social activities) at 5 months post-injury; (2) pre-injury years of education as a proxy for pre-morbid EE (or cognitive reserve). Primary outcome: bilateral hippocampal volume change from 5 to 28 months post-injury.
Results:
As predicted, self-reported EE was significantly negatively correlated with bilateral hippocampal atrophy (
p
< 0.05), with greater EE associated with less atrophy from 5 to 28 months. Contrary to prediction, years of education (a proxy for cognitive reserve) was not significantly associated with atrophy.
Conclusion:
Post-injury EE may serve as a buffer against hippocampal atrophy in the chronic stages of moderate-severe TBI. Clinical application of EE should be considered for optimal maintenance of neurological functioning in the chronic stages of moderate-severe TBI.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Environmental enrichment may protect against hippocampal atrophy in the chronic stages of traumatic brain injury
- Creators
- Lesley S. Miller - University of TorontoBrenda Colella - University Health NetworkDavid Mikulis - University Health NetworkJerome Maller - Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research centreRobin E. A. Green - University of Toronto
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in human neuroscience, Vol.7, p.506
- DOI
- 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00506
- PMID
- 24093011
- PMCID
- PMC3782701
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Hum Neurosci
- ISSN
- 1662-5161
- eISSN
- 1662-5161
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media S.A
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/24/2013
- Academic Unit
- Radiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984848430002771
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