The Lancet Neurology reported that under-recognized traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause cardiovascular and cognitive impairment. Study: TBI may raise risk of chronic diseases like dementia, heart disease, and stroke. A study indicated that TBI can cause memory loss, attention challenges, and slower reaction times. The findings also revealed that TBI may raise cardiovascular risk due to inflammation. The study calls for additional research into TBI dangers and long-term repercussions.
Long-term disability and untimely death are common in the military and contact sports due to TBI.
TBI and brain disorders including Alzheimer’s and dementia are linked, according to study. Neurological illness after TBI is still poorly understood.
The study indicates that cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, and endocrine dysfunction may mediate cerebral disease decades after TBI.
First author Saef Izzy of Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center in the US remarked, “Despite decades of extensive traumatic brain injury focused research, shockingly, there has been minimal progress in decreasing long-term effects and mortality following injuries
“The cardiovascular impacts of TBI may be a missing link in improving long-term quality of life and reducing mortality rates in TBI patients,” stated Izzy.
Post-injury weight gain and sleep changes may represent independent or additive hazards, and nervous-gastrointestinal system disruptions may upset gut microbe balance, causing cognitive and cardiovascular impacts.
How single vs repetitive traumas, age at injury, TBI severity, and other comorbidities affect cardiovascular risk is unknown.
“This analysis calls for better assessments and earlier management for TBI survivors at cardiovascular risk. “It requires new or expanded datasets that track cardiovascular disease biomarkers and targets over time,” said corresponding author Ross Zafonte, Chief of the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at MGH and BWH.
“There is a growing recognition that many systems interact to produce multilevel dysfunction after TBI, with nuanced comorbidities,” Zafonte said.
Conclusion:-
TBI may worsen cardiovascular and cognitive impairment, according to a Lancet Neurology study. Memory loss, focus issues, and decreased reaction times might result from TBI.
TBI may raise cardiovascular risk due to inflammation. The study calls for additional research into TBI dangers and long-term repercussions. Long-term impairment and premature death are common in military and contact sports due to TBI. Neurological illness after TBI is still poorly understood. Cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, and endocrine disorders may cause brain disease decades after TBI. Injury-related weight gain and sleep difficulties may offer hazards. How single vs repetitive traumas, age at injury, TBI severity, and other comorbidities affect cardiovascular risk is unknown.