Season 10 Episode 6 w Dr Spencer Roberts on sleep and mild traumatic brain injuries

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Spencer Roberts, a researcher at Deakin University, to dive deep into his recent paper: “A systematic review and meta-analysis of sleep following mild traumatic brain injury: A synthesis of the literature according to age and time since injury.” Together, we unpack the complexities of sleep disruption after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and what the latest science is telling us.   Episode Highlights – What We Discuss What the systematic review investigates and the range of populations it covers. Who is at risk of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and the difficulties in identifying these individuals. What defines a mild traumatic brain injury and how mTBI is diagnosed. The role of instrumented mouthguards in improving concussion detection and data collection. The difference between objective and subjective sleep measures and why objective data is difficult to collect. Whether sleep is impacted by mTBI – the central question addressed in the review. How the data was categorised for the review. Key findings from the meta-analysis, and how the team handled the complexity of synthesising multiple studies. The challenges in identifying the cause of sleep disturbances post-mTBI and measuring them accurately. Reflections on the scientific process – the ups, downs, and unexpected joys of research. Major takeaways for researchers and clinicians, including opportunities for future work in concussion and sleep research.   This episode is a must for those with an interest in concussion, sleep, and recovery outcomes. Dr. Spencer Roberts is focused on characterising athletes' sleep behaviours, and examining the value of sleep for mitigating the risks and consequences of sport-related concussion.   Research Paper: A systematic review and meta-analysis of sleep following mild traumatic brain injury: A synthesis of the literature according to age and time-since-injury - PubMed Deakin Profile: Spencer Roberts Profile | Deakin University LinkedIn: Dr. Spencer Roberts