"Do Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Double The Risk Of Dementia?" - Madolyn Bowman Rogers
Two large epidemiological studies recently reported that even mild traumatic brain injuries bump up a person’s risk of developing neurodegenerative disease. A new study weighs in. Researchers analyzed data from 357, 558 veterans, half of whom had a traumatic brain injury. Mild TBIs doubled their risk of dementia and more severe TBIs nearly quadrupled it. Kristen Dams-O’Connor, PhD, associate professor of rehabilitation medicine and co-director of the brain injury research center of Mount Sinai at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, noted that the veterans in this study had high rates of medical and psychiatric conditions, such as substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder, which act as independent risk factors for dementia. “It raises questions as to whether veterans of current conflicts are vulnerable to a perfect storm. When TBI is overlaid upon these conditions, the risk for dementia may be greatly increased,” she said.
- Kristen Dams-O’Connor, PhD, Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Medicine, Co-Director, Brain Injury Research Center of Mount Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai