Traumatic brain injury (TBI) does not discriminate against age or gender and can occur to anyone at any time. The United States has recorded an exceptionally high rate between 1.7 and 3.8 million cases of traumatic brain injury a year. Worse yet, those numbers may be an underestimation as often these injuries are undiagnosed and unreported. What is most important is for family, friends, and yourself to know the signs and what to do if you believe this injury has occurred.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Many believe they have only suffered a traumatic brain injury if they have been knocked unconscious, but that is not the case. If you have experienced impact to the head, face or neck you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury and should evaluate the signs. If one experiences behavioral or emotional changes, headaches, sleep disturbance, slower reaction times, difficulty concentrating, or trouble thinking clearly they may be the victim of a traumatic brain injury.
No matter how “minor” a traumatic brain injury may be there is no greater importance than recognizing the signs and seeking treatment. More and more studies have shown that experiencing a traumatic brain injury, especially more than once, could have long term cognitive consequences. This injury could lead to an increased risk for memory impairment and dementia, and may accelerate cognitive aging.
Traumatic brain injuries can affect everybody so make sure to take proper precautionary measures by wearing helmets when necessary, suggesting baseline cognitive testing for student athletes and knowing the signs.
About Dr. Green:
Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D., is a nationally recognized expert in memory fitness training, as well as an acclaimed author, respected lecturer, and sought-after spokesperson. She has appeared on MSBNC, as well as in the pages of Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, and Parenting and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post. Known for her engaging and personable presentation style, Dr. Green lectures extensively on memory fitness and related topics as president of Memory Arts, LLC. She has served on the faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Mount Sinai Health System since 1990, where she is currently an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Green is the author of Brainpower Game Plan, Total Memory Workout, 30 Days to Total Brain Health and coauthor of Through the Seasons.
