New research has found that the risk of developing dementia is higher in people who have experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) compared to those who have not had a TBI.
The recent study, led by the Washington School of Medicine and published in The Lancet, reviewed almost 3 million cases in Denmark across almost four decades, making it the largest study of its kind to date. The researchers found that the risk of developing dementia was 24% higher in people who had sustained a TBI as compared to those who had no history of TBI.
The risk of dementia was found to be related to the person’s age, severity of the injury, and number of injuries sustained. Those with severe injuries, or multiple injuries, were found to be at higher risk of dementia than those with minor or single injuries, however, even a single mild TBI was found to increase the risk of dementia by 17%.
While the recent results give further evidence of a link between TBI and dementia, it is important to note that not everyone who sustains a TBI will develop dementia later on in life.
While TBI has long been associated with increased risk of dementia, large-scale studies have been scarce. At Nockolds, we welcome any research that helps us better understand the complex and varied implications of brain injury.