Links Between Traumatic Brain Injuries and Dementia

According to Brain Injury Canada, by the year 2031, traumatic brain injury is expected to become the most common form of neurological conditions affecting our population, right up there with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The interesting thing is that we now know that there is a link between the two. 

A traumatic brain injury is one caused by a blow or jolt to the head. While mild TBIs were thought to temporarily affect brain cells, with more serious brain injuries having long-term consequences, ongoing studies have found that certain types of TBIs may increase a victim’s risk of developing dementia years after the initial injury took place. 

Even a History of Moderate TBIs Can Create a Greater Risk for Dementia

One of the most important studies showed that older adults with a history of a moderate traumatic brain injury had a 2.3 times greater risk for Alzheimer’s than those without a history. Those with a history of a severe TBI showed a 4.5 greater risk for dementia. In addition, a study published by the Journal of Neurology found that a history of TBIs can accelerate the age at which cognitive decline can happen. 

While there is no current evidence suggesting that a history of mild TBIs shows any greater risk for dementia, the current emerging data shows that repeated injuries such as those experienced in contact sports show a higher risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, another form of dementia. 

Chemical Changes in the Brain

While further research will be needed to fully understand the link between traumatic brain injury and dementia, we are beginning to understand how TBIs change brain chemistry. Within hours of a traumatic brain injury, levels of beta-amyloid, a hallmark Alzheimer’s protein, increase in the brain. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy shows deposits of another Alzheimer’s hallmark, tau protein. 

While not everyone who experiences a traumatic brain injury will go on to develop dementia, it’s important to get any head trauma looked at immediately by a health care provider after an injury or accident. If you or a loved one has sustained a TBI in an accident, let our Cambridge personal injury lawyers help. Contact us for a no-cost consultation. (519) 658-6341