Traumatic brain injury has persisted as one of the main causes of death and serious injury in the United States. Along with the severe short-term impact that TBI has on the health and well being of the injured, there is also a long term concern for dementia and memory loss. TryMunity always wants to inform our community as much as possible on the potential long-term consequences of TBI. Here we will briefly discuss the pathology of dementia resulting from TBI. If you have any specific questions, it is best to consult with your doctor.

TBI Increases Risk for Dementia

Data has shown that moderate to severe TBI can increase the risk for dementia 2 to 4-fold. Especially when there is repeated injury to the brain, patents are at high risk to suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a specific type of dementia associated with TBI. There is still considerable study to be done on the increase in Alzheimer disease and TBI.

Signs & Symptoms of Dementia

While dementia is not a specific disease, it can be used to describe a wide range of symptoms. Dementia is associated with a decline in the cognitive abilities and memory of an individual. It is important to note that symptoms of dementia can vary greatly, but there must be at least a few core mental functions to be impacted for it to be considered dementia. Symptoms of dementia include:

• Memory loss
• Unable to communicate properly
• Unable to focus or pay attention
• Lack of judgment or reasoning
• Poor visual perception

If you or a loved one has experienced these symptoms after a TBI, it is important that you speak with your doctor.

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