Study suggests one head injury can drive up odds of dementia in the future by 25 per cent

A personal injury lawyer has called attention to new research suggesting that experiencing even one head injury may increase the risk of developing dementia in the future by 25 per cent, with such chances increasing with every subsequent head injury.

“There is now consensus in the medical community that a history of head injury is commonly associated with earlier long-term cognitive decline and with a greater risk of developing dementia,” wrote Robert Deutschmann of Deutschmann Law Professional Corporation in a blog post.

The study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia found that this link between head injuries, even mild injuries, and greater risk of dementia is particularly true for white individuals and women. The research tracked over a period of 25 years the health information of a sample group of 14,000 Americans who had suffered from brain injuries.

Numerous other studies with big sample groups also suggest that there are race differences when it comes to the chances of developing dementia, but no studies have specifically determined why such race or gender differences occur. This research on which populations may be more affected by head injuries may assist in developing better treatments and prevention for future head injuries.

Aside from head injury, other factors possibly impacting the risk of dementia include genetics, high blood pressure and lifestyle choices like smoking.

Deutschmann also shared an article from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which stressed the critical importance of early recognition and management of concussions.

Of a sample group of 202 former National Football League players, 87 per cent received a post-mortem diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition which can only be diagnosed after death, a 2017 study found.

As more women get into contact sports, studies suggest that women have higher risk of suffering from sports-related concussions and of experiencing more severe and long-lasting symptoms. However, the article noted that, in this area of research, most clinical trials have centred on men, not women.

Concussions are associated with numerous short-term and long-term health risks, such as depression, diabetes, hypertension, stroke and other neurological disorders, found research published in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

In Canada, accidents involving automobiles, sports, physical assaults and slips-and-falls are the leading causes of brain injuries and concussions.