Many people think of a head injury as something that happens in a car crash or during sports, but traumatic brain injuries—or TBIs—are much more common and deadly than most realize.
A new study has shown that in the United States, some groups of people are dying from brain injuries much more often than others. These include older adults, men, and certain racial and ethnic communities.
Researchers looked at national data from 2021 and found that brain injuries led to nearly 70,000 deaths in that year alone. That means about 190 people died from brain injuries every single day.
This is nearly a 9% increase from the year before. Experts say this growing number is a warning sign that more needs to be done to prevent these injuries and save lives.
A traumatic brain injury happens when a hit or blow to the head stops the brain from working the way it should. TBIs can happen in many ways—by accident, such as in falls or car crashes, or on purpose, such as in violent attacks or suicide.
The study was led by Dr. Alexis Peterson from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her team studied how factors like age, gender, race, and location affect the chances of dying from a TBI. They found some worrying patterns.
One of the most at-risk groups is older adults, especially people aged 75 and over. For them, simple falls are the number one cause of fatal brain injuries. As people age, their bodies become more fragile, and even a minor fall can lead to serious problems. That’s why it’s important to make homes safer and provide extra support to prevent falls.
Men were also found to be at much higher risk. The death rate for men was more than three times higher than for women. This could be because men often do more risky activities, or because their injuries tend to be more serious.
Interestingly, the study noted that as men age, their outcomes get worse. For women, especially after menopause, their outcomes seem to improve a bit.
There were also big differences between racial and ethnic groups. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people had the highest death rate from TBIs. Experts believe this may be due to less access to good healthcare, unsafe living conditions, and lower incomes in these communities.
The most common reason for TBI-related deaths was suicide. This shows that mental health plays a huge role in brain injury deaths. After that, unintentional injuries like car crashes and falls were the next most common causes. The study also found that children under 18 made up about 4% of the deaths.
The researchers believe that the healthcare system can help reduce TBI deaths by focusing on people who are most at risk. For example, doctors and nurses can help older adults stay safe at home, or support patients with mental health problems before things get worse.
Dr. Peterson also said it’s important to offer care that respects different cultures, especially for groups hit hardest by brain injuries.
The study had a few limits. For example, death certificate records may not always be perfect. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed some of the results. But overall, the research gives important clues about how to prevent these tragic deaths.
To help stop brain injury deaths, public health programs should focus on things like fall prevention for seniors, better mental health care, and community education. The CDC also offers many free tools that healthcare workers can use to support patients and reduce risks.
In the end, the message is clear: brain injuries are a serious and growing problem, but we can save lives by acting now. With the right care, education, and policies, we can protect more people and help our communities stay safe and healthy.
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If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
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