Dementia Risks From Traumatic Brain Injuries Among Older Adults Highlighted in New Study

Canadian researchers say fall prevention measures are key to preventing those over the age of 65 from suffering head trauma.

According to findings published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on October 6, the risk of dementia appears to increase by nearly 70% for those over the age of 65 who receive a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Traumatic brain injuries occur when the head sustains a significant impact, ranging from mild concussions to more serious trauma caused by car crashes or sports accidents. Among older adults, these injuries most often result from falls. 

Although the condition has been studied for years, researchers continue to uncover new insights into how such injuries affect the brain over time.

Data published by researchers from Virginia Tech last year highlighted how even mild-TBIs can lead to long-term depression. Another study last year warned that TBIs may increase the risk of stroke by more than 30% within 10 years after suffering the injury. Additional research published just last month by researchers from Harvard Medical School indicated suffering a TBI increases the risk of developing cancerous brain tumors by nearly 70%.

In the new study, researchers from the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital looked at the effects of TBIs on participants over 65 years of age. They used administrative data from more than 260,000 participants in Ontario, Canada who suffered a new TBI between April 2004 and March 2020. Patients with a new TBI were matched one to one with control patients who did not suffer a TBI.

Led by Ph.D. student Yu Qing Huang, the study followed patients for up to 17 years, tracking them until they were diagnosed with dementia, died, or until March 2021, whichever came first.

Researchers said new TBIs in older adults were linked to a 69% increased risk of developing dementia in the first five years, when compared to their peers. The risk of developing dementia was still 56% higher more than five years after suffering the TBI.

The data also indicated participants who suffered head injuries were more likely to need publicly funded home healthcare. Residents of smaller communities needed less home care than those from larger communities, while they had a higher likelihood of being admitted to long-term nursing homes.

The study also showed dementia was more common among women compared to men, and was more common in low-income neighborhoods.

According to the data, one in three adults over 85 who experience a traumatic brain injury will go on to develop dementia. Researchers noted that falls are the leading cause of these injuries in older adults, and many could be prevented through simple safety measures such as installing handrails and other home modifications.

The team concluded that additional medical training and healthcare policies are needed to help prevent falls among older patients. They also called for the prioritization of community-based support services for older adults living in smaller, low-income communities.

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