When people think about a serious head injury, they often worry about what might happen afterward. They may fear memory problems, seizures, or other brain-related conditions in the future.
Scientists have long known that these concerns are valid because traumatic brain injuries can increase the risk of several neurological diseases. A new study, however, suggests that the story may be more complicated.
Certain brain diseases may not only be the result of head injuries but may also increase the chances of experiencing a traumatic brain injury in the first place.
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, happens when the brain is damaged by a blow, bump, or sudden movement of the head. Symptoms can range from mild headaches and confusion to severe disability and long-lasting cognitive problems.
Older adults are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to experience falls. Falls account for a large proportion of brain injuries in people over the age of 65.
Researchers wanted to understand whether common neurological disorders might make older adults more likely to experience these injuries. Their findings were published in the journal Neurology. The study was led by Dr. Carrie Peltz from the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
The scientists analyzed health information from more than 55,000 older military veterans. Among them were 13,801 veterans who had recently experienced a traumatic brain injury and 41,403 similar veterans who had not. The average participant was 78 years old.
The research team looked at medical records covering one year before and one year after the brain injury or a comparable period for people without an injury.
The study focused on four important neurological conditions: stroke, dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or a blood vessel bursts.
Dementia involves a gradual decline in memory and thinking abilities. Epilepsy causes repeated seizures, and Parkinson’s disease affects movement and balance. All of these conditions can interfere with a person’s ability to walk safely and perform everyday activities.
The researchers discovered that people who had recently suffered a traumatic brain injury were much more likely to have been diagnosed with one of these disorders during the previous year.
For stroke, there were 64 cases per 1,000 person-years among people with a brain injury compared with only 20 among those without one. For dementia, the rates were 58 compared with 19. For epilepsy, the rates were 14 compared with 4. For Parkinson’s disease, the rates were 10 compared with 3.
Even after considering other health issues that might influence risk, the association remained strong. Veterans with a recent traumatic brain injury were about four times more likely to have recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and about three times more likely to have been diagnosed with stroke, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers also looked forward in time. After experiencing a brain injury, people were twice as likely to develop stroke or epilepsy compared with before the injury. They were also more likely to develop dementia. The study did not find a higher rate of Parkinson’s disease after the injury, although previous research has suggested a possible link.
The researchers believe that neurological diseases may increase the risk of brain injury because these conditions often affect balance, movement, thinking skills, and coordination.
An older person who has trouble walking, remembering hazards, or maintaining balance may be much more likely to trip and fall. Since falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among older adults, this explanation makes sense.
The findings point to several practical steps that may help reduce risk. Older adults who are diagnosed with neurological disorders may benefit from balance training, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Making homes safer by removing loose rugs, improving lighting, and installing grab bars may also reduce the likelihood of falls. Reviewing medications is important because some drugs can increase dizziness and affect coordination.
The study also had limitations. It did not include people who died within a year of a severe brain injury or those who had mild injuries and never sought medical care. In addition, all participants were veterans, so the results may not fully represent other groups of older adults.
Overall, the findings suggest that brain injuries and neurological diseases may be closely connected and may influence each other in both directions. The study cannot prove that one directly causes the other, but it highlights a period of vulnerability after a neurological diagnosis when preventing falls becomes especially important.
The research also reminds us that protecting brain health is not only about treating disease but also about identifying risks early and taking practical steps to prevent injuries that may further harm the brain and reduce independence in later life.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
Source: San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
