Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Articles

History of Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Cognitive Functioning, Memory Complaints, and Brain Structure in Mid-Life.

In this study, we investigated history of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness in relation to cognitive functioning, subjective memory complaints, and brain structure in mid-life. This study included 2005 participants (mean age: 47.6 years, standard deviation: 5.0, women: 65%) from the Origins of Alzheimer's Disease Across the Life Course (ORACLE) study between 2017 and 2020. History of traumatic brain injury was defined as at least one lifetime self-reported brain injury with loss of consciousness. Associations of history of traumatic brain injury with (1) cognitive functioning (measured with the 15-Word Learning Test, Stroop Task, Letter-Digit Substitution Test, Word Fluency Test, Purdue Pegboard Test, and Design Organization Test), (2) current subjective memory complaints (present/absent, measured with a survey), and (3) brain structure (total brain volume, frontal and temporal lobe volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, white matter hyperintensities volume, infarcts, and microbleeds, measured with brain magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) were assessed using linear or logistical regression models and adjusted for relevant confounders. In total, 250 of 2005 (12%) participants reported a history of traumatic brain injury. Of those who reported the time post-injury (n = 173), most participants (n = 151, 87%) reported that it had occurred >10 years ago. We found no associations between history of traumatic brain injury and any of the cognitive tests. We did find that a history of traumatic brain injury was associated with having mid-life subjective memory complaints (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 2.58). This association was also present when investigating only those who reported an injury >10 years ago (OR:1.69; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.50). Additionally, the association was stronger in those with >30 min loss of consciousness (OR: 3.57; 95% CI: 1.48, 8.59) than in those with <30 min loss of consciousness (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.74), when compared with those without history of traumatic brain injury. Lastly, we found no associations between history of traumatic brain injury and any of the structural brain MRI outcomes. In conclusion, our study suggests that at least one lifetime traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness in mid-life is associated with long-term subjective memory complaints, but not with cognitive functioning or brain structure.

Mental Fatigue after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Cognitive Tests and Brain Imaging Methods.

Most people recover within months after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion, but some will suffer from long-term fatigue with a reduced quality of life and the inability to maintain their employment status or education. For many people, mental fatigue is one of the most distressing and long-lasting symptoms following an mTBI. No efficient treatment options can be offered. The best method for measuring fatigue today is with fatigue self-assessment scales, there being no objective clinical tests available for mental fatigue. The aim here is to provide a narrative review and identify fatigue in relation to cognitive tests and brain imaging methods. Suggestions for future research are presented.

Psychosocial Outcomes of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Discourse Recovery: A Longitudinal Study up to 1 Year Post-Injury.

Purpose The interrelationship between psychosocial outcomes and discourse after severe traumatic brain injury remains largely unknown. This study examines outcomes relating to work, relationships, and independence within the context of discourse recovery across the 1st year post-injury. Method An inception cohort comprising 57 participants with severe traumatic brain injury was assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-injury. Outcomes were measured with the Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale-2 (Tate et al., 2012; Tate, Simpson, Loo, & Lane-Brown, 2011), and discourse was evaluated with Main Concept Analysis of a narrative retell. Correlation and linear regression analyses were utilized. Results Significant correlations were found between psychosocial outcomes reported by relatives and discourse performance across the 1st year. The 6-month discourse scores significantly predicted the 12-month psychosocial outcomes reported by relatives. Initial discourse severity and recovery pattern also informed outcomes. Conclusions Discourse disorders have a strong relationship with everyday outcomes relating to work, relationships, and independence as reported by relatives. Six months post-injury is a beneficial time for assessment, education, and service planning. Age, years of education, and aphasia may mediate recovery and outcomes. A clinical decision tree is offered to support goal setting. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9755444.

Altered state of consciousness in mild traumatic brain injury in relation to utilization of services

IntroductionPrevalence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in young adults on college campuses worldwide is extremely concerning, given that this age range is critical for cognitive and behavioral development. Impaired cognition can negatively affect academic performance and quality of life, while the prevalence of acute and/or chronic symptoms impact outcome measures of intellectual efficiency and mental health. It has been reported that a greater number of TBI symptoms and altered state of consciousness are correlated with more academic challenges, chronic symptom prevalence, long-term deficits in executive, emotional, and behavioral functions, and lower employment outcome.Objective(1) Determine the relationship between altered or loss of consciousness and utilization of services. (2) Compare gender differences in prevalence of altered state of consciousness and service utilization from TBI.MethodsA campus wide email was sent out, with a Qualtrics online survey asking questions that pertained to the participants' TBI history, state of consciousness immediately following the injury, symptom prevalence, and the campus services they utilized.ResultsOf 194 respondents included in analysis, 36.6% indicated a loss of consciousness and 35.6% altered consciousness from TBI. At the same notion, only 9% of respondents indicated utilizing services. Interestingly, frequency of respondents' who accessed services was lower for those who experienced only loss of consciousness or both loss and altered consciousness, and higher for those who experienced only altered consciousness or neither (2.7%, 8.6%, 29.4%, 9.1%, respectively). No significant differences were observed between genders for altered state of consciousness or services utilized. However, more men seemed to indicate that they experienced neither change in consciousness (58.8% compared to 39.8% of females).ConclusionsState of consciousness may not be a good predictor of subsequent service utilization. Additionally, gender differences do not seem apparent when analyzing service utilization or level of consciousness at time of injury.

Etiology and Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Gender Differences Among African American Patients (I12-1.002)

Etiology and Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Gender Differences Among African American Patients (I12-1.002)

Etiology and Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Gender Differences Among African American Patients (P5.323)

Etiology and Epidemiology of Traumatic Brain Injury in Relation to Gender Differences Among African American Patients (P5.323)

Consumers with Traumatic Brain Injury and Significant Others' Perceptions of Changes in Cognitive, Behavioral, and Physical Status

This study investigated perceptions of persons with traumatic brain injury in relation to perceptions of a significant other in 14 domains of skills, abilities, and behaviors. Ninety-five pairs of ratings were obtained utilizing data collected from structured interviews. Findings indicated that the perceptions of raters differed on executive functioning and emotional status variables but not on other variables.

Alterations of norepinephrine levels in plasma and CSF of patients after traumatic brain injury in relation to disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

In injured brain tissue with a disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) catecholamines such as norepinephrine (NE) are known to enhance glucose consumption and cerebral blood flow but may lead to an energy depletion increasing the risk of ischemia. Therefore it is of great interest whether the exogenous administration of NE used mainly to maintain an adequate cerebral perfusion pressure influences CSF NE levels or not, and whether elevated plasma or CSF levels of NE can influence the actual clinical condition. We addressed this issue by measuring the levels of NE in CSF and plasma and correlating them with the actual clinical condition of the patients. In 29 patients with severe TBI (< 8 points on the Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS) NE levels were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in paired blood and CSF specimens which were collected from days 1 to 14 after severe TBI (total number of pairs = 121). The integrity of the BBB was evaluated by determining the CSF/serum albumin ratio. The clinical condition of the patients was assessed by GCS. Elevated plasma and CSF NE levels were observed in 50% of all samples, most consistently in patients treated with NE. NE elevation in CSF was independent of whether or not the BBB remained intact. There was no correlation between GCS and the levls of NE in CSF or plasma either in samples from the treated or the untreated group. Exogenous administration of NE seems to increase NE levels in plasma and CSF. However, in this group of patients with severe TBI there was no clinical evidence that exogenous administration of NE was detrimental to the traumatized patients.