MELBOURNE researchers have completely reversed brain damage in animal models by enriching the environment in which they recovered, a finding which could overhaul how victims of car crashes and sporting clashes are treated.
And the stimulation — such as activities, music and socialisation — could be introduced as late as a week after the traumatic brain injury, for the brain to start repairing itself.
Monash University Associate Professor Ramesh Rajan said their findings backed up research published last year that showed human patients who were kept in quiet and clinical wards after injury, did not make as good a recovery or got worse.