Tag Archives: Roosevelt

Spring Forward, Fall Down: Neurological Effect of Time Change

Every March, we lose an hour of sleep, or we gain an hour of sunlight, depending on your perspective. For TBI survivors, this forced clock shift has medically been proven to be particularly cruel. Up to 70% of survivors already struggle with disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms. Unfortunately, that is the same biological clock that drives the neural repair process itself.

The twist, though, is that the extra daylight we are about to gain can actually help injured brains heal. Powered by sunlight, studies have shown that Vitamin D is typically low in brain injury patients, particularly at rehab admission, and deficiency is linked to worse survival. While adding a Vitamin D supplement into your daily pill regiment is good, natural Vitamin D absorption is always best.   

While it may seem a biannual norm, it wasn’t until March 19, 1918 that time became a legislative concern in the United States. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Standard Time Act of 1918, also known as the Calder Act, “to save daylight and to provide standard time, for the United States.”. (On January 20, 1942, President Roosevelt established War Time, which halted the time shift from 1942 – 1945.)

More recently, opposition to time change has increased and a large minority of Americans say that they do not want to keep switching their clocks. In Congress, S.29, Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, sponsored by current Secretary of State, former Florida Senator, Marco Rubio and Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL) would have made Daylight Savings Time permanent. This Congressional year, Rep. Greg Steube (FL) introduced H.R. 7378, Daylight Act of 2026, that would permanently move U.S. clocks forward by 30 minutes and eliminate the biannual time change. As of March 4, 2026, this Act is in the House.

*British Columbia will permanently adopt year-round daylight saving time in 2026, with the final “spring forward” occurring on Sunday, March 8, 2026. It may be useful to observe how this change, or lack there of, functions in another country that has same time zones before passing legislation.

Give Your Brain a Gift: Benefit of Creative Activities in Brain Injury Recovery and Beyond

Creative hobbies strengthen brain health in everyone, but they hold particular promise for those recovering from brain injury. Activities like painting, dancing, music, creative writing, pottery, and even certain video games engage multiple brain regions, enhancing memory, coordination, and emotional well-being.

A 2025 study published in Nature Communications, and found in the NIH dababase, examined brain data from over 1,400 participants across 13 countries and found that creative activities can slow brain aging and promote healthier brain function. Lead researcher Dr. Carlos Coronel noted that “these creative experiences help protect brain connections that are vulnerable to accelerated aging.”

Related to brain injury survivors specifically, creative arts therapies show measurable benefits. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suffered significant neurological issues and found solace in creative hobbies during his recovery from polio, declared: “I owe my life to my hobbies.” 2025 research reports in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, in the NIH database, note that there is increasing use of creative arts therapy for addressing traumatic brain injury, from intensive care units to home health. Studies demonstrate positive impacts on daily living activities, motor function, and emotional well-being. In fact, the neurological changes following brain injury may actually enhance artistic capabilities through increased neural plasticity and synapse formation.

Crucially, these benefits extend beyond formal rehabilitation. Continuing creative pursuits long-term helps maintain neural connections in everyone, making it essential for survivors to keep practicing their creative hobbies. The holiday season offers perfect opportunities—crafting decorations, creating handmade gifts, baking festive treats, and arranging seasonal displays all provide therapeutic engagement.