News

Fifty percent of people with a long-term disorder of consciousness regain consciousness thanks to specialized rehabilitation, according to the study 'Measuring in the chain' by Danielle Driessen. 'Measuring in the chain' is a collaboration between EENnacoma, Libra Rehabilitation & Audiology, Erasmus MC and Radboudumc and is funded by the Brain Foundation.

Until 2019, Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation (VIN) was only available for children and young adults up to the age of 25. In that year, Erasmus MC and Radboudumc, together with the EENnacoma network, a network of specialized care institutions including Libra, managed to gain access to appropriate rehabilitation for adults as well. A specialist treatment was introduced to restore consciousness in adults with a long-term disorder of consciousness: Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation. A national study was immediately started, funded by the Brain Foundation and care institutions of EENnacoma, to find out how these patients would fare.

Results of the research
The first results of the study, 'Measuring in the chain', are now known and published in a renowned international journal. The short-term outcomes, at the end of the VIN treatment, of the first 100 patients have been described by Daniëlle Driessen, rehabilitation physician at Libra. Research shows that recovery is also possible with long-term disorders of consciousness. About half of people aged 16 and older regain consciousness in the first, most intensive phase of treatment and another 30% show signs of minimal awareness with a focus on assignment. More results will follow in the coming months, including on long-term outcomes, quality of life and ethical issues.