National Academies Report on TBI

Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans Should Be Evaluated in Long-Term Studies To Better Understand TBI, IOM Recommends 12/05/08. Many of the service members who experience traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk for long-term health problems such as depression and dementia, but it is unknown how high those risks are, according to an Institute of Medicine report released Thursday, the AP/Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports (Neergaard, AP/Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 12/5). An estimated 5,500 military personnel have suffered from a brain injury, and brain injuries account for about 22% of all casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan (Carey, New York Times, 12/5). For the IOM report, researchers examined past studies on TBI and found that it can be linked to long-term health risks such as depression, Alzheimer's-like dementia, Parkinson's-like symptoms, seizures, aggressive behavior, dizziness, amnesia and problems with social functioning (AP/Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 12/5). Kaisernetwork

Traumatic Brain Injury Linked to Long-Term Health Problems 12/04/08. Military personnel who suffer severe or moderate traumatic brain injury face an increased risk for developing several long-term health problems, including Alzheimer's-like dementia, aggression, memory loss, and depression, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. In addition, it calls for stepped up efforts to research and understand brain injuries sustained from the force of an explosion without a direct head blow, a condition that may be underdiagnosed.
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