PhD Candidate

Joey Brautigam

Commenced PhD: RQ4, 2022
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6638-9774

Despite the fact that sleep disturbances impair neurocognitive function and are frequently present in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the effect of their relationship in this clinical cohort remains unknown. As such, the goal of Joey’s PhD is to assess the impact of sleep disturbance on people with MS compared to healthy controls, and to ascertain if any associated dysfunction is disproportionately larger in the MS group. Further, if such effects are found, Joey plans to explore possible underlying mechanisms, such as the effect of visual deficits on circadian oscillation and how sleep plays a role in neuroinflammation. Ultimately, is sleep a viable pathway we can explore to address treatment of MS disease pathology?