Causes And Risk Factors Of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder

Brain Damage

Some individuals who have sustained considerable trauma to the head or brain damage may develop non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder. Previous to experiencing the trauma or incurring damage, the individual was known to have a healthy and functioning sleep-wake cycle center. Not only is physical trauma to the brain a possible cause, but any tumors that form in or near the hypothalamus or pineal gland can cause non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder to develop. In some cases of such malignant or benign tumors, treatment with radiation therapy has the potential to cause damage to the sleep-wake center of the patient's brain. Another trauma that can lead to non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder is when an individual suffers damage to the brain due to an aneurysm near the suprachiasmatic nucleus or tiny region of the brain in the hypothalamus responsible for an individual's circadian rhythm. Secondary non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder can be caused by any injury, damage, or physical abnormalities that lead to a patient's total blindness.

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