Sleep, Brain, and Recovery: Exploring the Neurobiological Mechanisms and Cognitive Consequences of Disordered Sleep in Neurological Patients

Sleep is a homeostatically regulated physiological state that is universal across the animal kingdom and essential for tissue repair, immune regulation, memory consolidation and neuroplasticity. Despite its importance, sleep can be disrupted in numerous ways, particularly by sleep disorders that are characterized by their alterations in sleep architecture. These disturbances are especially prevalent in neurological populations. This thesis explores the neurobiology of sleep, the presentation of common sleep disorders and their impact on cognition, recovery and quality of life of neurological patients. The findings emphasize that sleep disturbances can accelerate disease progression, hinder recovery and compromise cognitive functioning as well as overall quality of life.