scholarly journals Disorders of Consciousness due to Traumatic Brain Injury: Functional Status Ten Years Post-Injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 1136-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flora M. Hammond ◽  
Joseph T. Giacino ◽  
Risa Nakase Richardson ◽  
Mark Sherer ◽  
Ross D. Zafonte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Disorders Of Consciousness ◽  
Post Injury

scholarly journals The Functional Status Examination in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A TRACK-TBI Sub-Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1165-1174
Author(s):  
Evan Zahniser ◽  
Nancy R Temkin ◽  
Joan Machamer ◽  
Jason Barber ◽  
Geoffrey T Manley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Functional Impairments ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Leisure And Recreation

Abstract Objective The Functional Status Examination (FSE) is a comprehensive measure of functional status post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) that has primarily been used in studies of moderate-to-severe TBI. The present observational study examines functional status using the FSE among patients who sustained mild TBIs (mTBIs; defined as Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] = 13–15 at admission) seen in a Level 1 trauma center. Study aims included examining the course of functional status following mTBI, as well as exploring relationships of the FSE and other relevant constructs among those with GCS = 13–15. Method Participants were assessed at 2 weeks (n = 112), 3 months (n = 113), 6 months (n = 106), and 12 months (n = 88) post-injury for changes in functional status resulting both (a) from all injuries and (b) from TBI only. Results Among seven domains of day-to-day functioning, participants generally experienced the greatest disruption in their primary activity (work or school) and in leisure and recreation. Subjects’ overall functional status tended to improve over time, with sharpest increases in functionality occurring in the first 3 months post-injury. However, some subjects continued to report functional limitations even at 12 months post-injury. Functional status was largely unrelated to neurocognitive functioning, but related strongly to post-traumatic symptoms, life satisfaction, and emotional well-being, particularly at 3 months post-injury and beyond. Conclusion Findings indicate that functional impairments related to mTBI may be more likely to persist than widely believed, with those who experience lingering functional deficits at particular risk for emotional health difficulties.

scholarly journals A-126 Clinical Utility of Risk Factors to Predict Self-reported Neurobehavioral Outcome Following Traumatic Brain Injury: PTSD, Sleep, Resilience, and Lifetime Blast Exposure

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 919-919
Author(s):  
Lange R ◽  
Lippa S ◽  
Hungerford L ◽  
Bailie J ◽  
French L ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Blast Exposure ◽  
Neurobehavioral Outcome

Abstract Objective To examine the clinical utility of PTSD, Sleep, Resilience, and Lifetime Blast Exposure as ‘Risk Factors’ for predicting poor neurobehavioral outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Participants were 993 service members/veterans evaluated following an uncomplicated mild TBI (MTBI), moderate–severe TBI (ModSevTBI), or injury without TBI (Injured Controls; IC); divided into three cohorts: (1) < 12 months post-injury, n = 237 [107 MTBI, 71 ModSevTBI, 59 IC]; (2) 3-years post-injury, n = 370 [162 MTBI, 80 ModSevTBI, 128 IC]; and (3) 10-years post-injury, n = 386 [182 MTBI, 85 ModSevTBI, 119 IC]. Participants completed a 2-hour neurobehavioral test battery. Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated to determine whether the ‘Risk Factors’ could predict ‘Poor Outcome’ in each cohort separately. Sixteen Risk Factors were examined using all possible combinations of the four risk factor variables. Poor Outcome was defined as three or more low scores (< 1SD) on five TBI-QOL scales (e.g., Fatigue, Depression). Results In all cohorts, the vast majority of risk factor combinations resulted in ORs that were ‘clinically meaningful’ (ORs > 3.00; range = 3.15 to 32.63, all p’s < .001). Risk factor combinations with the highest ORs in each cohort were PTSD (Cohort 1 & 2, ORs = 17.76 and 25.31), PTSD+Sleep (Cohort 1 & 2, ORs = 18.44 and 21.18), PTSD+Sleep+Resilience (Cohort 1, 2, & 3, ORs = 13.56, 14.04, and 20.08), Resilience (Cohort 3, OR = 32.63), and PTSD+Resilience (Cohort 3, OR = 24.74). Conclusions Singularly, or in combination, PTSD, Poor Sleep, and Low Resilience were strong predictors of poor outcome following TBI of all severities and injury without TBI. These variables may be valuable risk factors for targeted early interventions following injury.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Managing Patients Suffering from TBI: The Utility of Multiparametric MRI

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-179
Author(s):  
John L. Sherman ◽  
Laurence J. Adams ◽  
Christen F. Kutz ◽  
Deborah York ◽  
Mitchell S. Szymczak
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Family History ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Multiparametric Mri ◽  
Psychiatric History ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Negative Family History ◽  
Imaging Result ◽  
The Brain

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex phenomenon affecting multiple areas of the brain in multiple ways. Both right and left hemispheres are affected as well as supratentorial and infratentorial compartments. These multifocal injuries are caused by many factors including acute mechanical injury, focal intracranial hemorrhage, blunt and rotational forces, epidural and subdural hematoma, hypoxemia, hypotension, edema, axonal damage, neuronal death, gliosis and blood brain barrier disruption. Clinicians and patients benefit by precise information about the neuroanatomical areas that are affected macroscopically, microscopically and biochemically in an individual patient.Standard imaging studies are frequently negative or grossly underestimate the severity of TBI and may exacerbate and prolong patient suffering with an imaging result of “no significant abnormality”. Specifically, sophisticated imaging tools have been developed which reveal significant damage to the brain structure including atrophy, MRI spectroscopy showing variations in neuronal metabolite N-acetyl-aspartate, elevations of membrane related Choline, and the glial metabolite myo-inositol is often observed to be increased post injury. In addition, susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) has been shown to be more reliable for detecting microbleeds versus calcifications.We have selected two TBI patients with diffuse traumatic brain injury.The first patient is a 43-year-old male who suffered severe traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident in 2016. Following the accident, the patient was diagnosed with seizures, major depression, and intermittent explosive disorder. He has attempted suicide and has neurobehavioral disinhibition including severe anger, agitation and irritability. He denies psychiatric history prior to TBI and has negative family history. Following the TBI, he became physically aggressive and assaultive in public with minimal provocation. He denies symptoms of thought disorder and mania. He is negative for symptoms of  cognitive decline or encephalopathy.The second patient is a 49-year-old male who suffered at least 3 concussive blasts in the Army and a parachute injury. Following the last accident, the patient was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. He denies any psychiatric history prior to TBI including negative family history of psychiatric illness. In addition, he now suffers from nervousness, irritability, anger, emotional lability and concurrent concentration issues, problems completing tasks and alterations in memory.Both patients underwent 1.5T multiparametric MRI using standard T2, FLAIR, DWI and T1 sequences, and specialized sequences including susceptibility weighted (SWAN/SWI), 3D FLAIR, single voxel MRI spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), arterial spin labeling perfusion (ASL) and volumetric MRI (NeuroQuant). Importantly, this exam can be performed in 30–45 minutes and requires no injections other than gadolinium in some patients. We will discuss the insights derived from the MRI which detail the injured areas, validate the severity of the brain damage, and provide insight into the psychological, motivational and physical disabilities that afflict these patients. It is our expectation that this kind of imaging study will grow in value as we link specific patterns of injury to specific symptoms and syndromes resulting in more targeted therapies in the future.

Blood Biomarkers Relate to Cognitive Performance Years after Traumatic Brain Injury in Service Members and Veterans

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sara M. Lippa ◽  
Jessica Gill ◽  
Tracey A. Brickell ◽  
Louis M. French ◽  
Rael T. Lange
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Blood Biomarkers ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Blood Draw ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
History Of

Abstract Objective: This study examines the relationship of serum total tau, neurofilament light (NFL), ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with neurocognitive performance in service members and veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: Service members (n = 488) with a history of uncomplicated mild (n = 172), complicated mild, moderate, severe, or penetrating TBI (sTBI; n = 126), injured controls (n = 116), and non-injured controls (n = 74) prospectively enrolled from Military Treatment Facilities. Participants completed a blood draw and neuropsychological assessment a year or more post-injury. Six neuropsychological composite scores and presence/absence of mild neurocognitive disorder (MNCD) were evaluated. Within each group, stepwise hierarchical regression models were conducted. Results: Within the sTBI group, increased serum UCH-L1 was related to worse immediate memory and delayed memory (R2Δ = .065–.084, ps < .05) performance, while increased GFAP was related to worse perceptual reasoning (R2Δ = .030, p = .036). Unexpectedly, within injured controls, UCH-L1 and GFAP were inversely related to working memory (R2Δ = .052–.071, ps < .05), and NFL was related to executive functioning (R2Δ = .039, p = .021) and MNCD (Exp(B) = 1.119, p = .029). Conclusions: Results suggest GFAP and UCH-L1 could play a role in predicting poor cognitive outcome following complicated mild and more severe TBI. Further investigation of blood biomarkers and cognition is warranted.

scholarly journals Chronic complement dysregulation drives neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury: a transcriptomic study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amer Toutonji ◽  
Mamatha Mandava ◽  
Silvia Guglietta ◽  
Stephen Tomlinson
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Complement System ◽  
Classical Pathway ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Complement Inhibition ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Complement Gene ◽  
The Complement System

AbstractActivation of the complement system propagates neuroinflammation and brain damage early and chronically after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The complement system is complex and comprises more than 50 components, many of which remain to be characterized in the normal and injured brain. Moreover, complement therapeutic studies have focused on a limited number of histopathological outcomes, which while informative, do not assess the effect of complement inhibition on neuroprotection and inflammation in a comprehensive manner. Using high throughput gene expression technology (NanoString), we simultaneously analyzed complement gene expression profiles with other neuroinflammatory pathway genes at different time points after TBI. We additionally assessed the effects of complement inhibition on neuropathological processes. Analyses of neuroinflammatory genes were performed at days 3, 7, and 28 post injury in male C57BL/6 mice following a controlled cortical impact injury. We also characterized the expression of 59 complement genes at similar time points, and also at 1- and 2-years post injury. Overall, TBI upregulated the expression of markers of astrogliosis, immune cell activation, and cellular stress, and downregulated the expression of neuronal and synaptic markers from day 3 through 28 post injury. Moreover, TBI upregulated gene expression across most complement activation and effector pathways, with an early emphasis on classical pathway genes and with continued upregulation of C2, C3 and C4 expression 2 years post injury. Treatment using the targeted complement inhibitor, CR2-Crry, significantly ameliorated TBI-induced transcriptomic changes at all time points. Nevertheless, some immune and synaptic genes remained dysregulated with CR2-Crry treatment, suggesting adjuvant anti-inflammatory and neurotropic therapy may confer additional neuroprotection. In addition to characterizing complement gene expression in the normal and aging brain, our results demonstrate broad and chronic dysregulation of the complement system after TBI, and strengthen the view that the complement system is an attractive target for TBI therapy.

scholarly journals 3,6′-Dithiopomalidomide Ameliorates Hippocampal Neurodegeneration, Microgliosis and Astrogliosis and Improves Cognitive Behaviors in Rats with a Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8276
Author(s):  
Pen-Sen Huang ◽  
Ping-Yen Tsai ◽  
Ling-Yu Yang ◽  
Daniela Lecca ◽  
Weiming Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Behavioral Deficits ◽  
Cognitive Behaviors ◽  
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Behavioral Impairments ◽  
Hippocampal Neurodegeneration

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. It can instigate immediate cell death, followed by a time-dependent secondary injury that results from disproportionate microglial and astrocyte activation, excessive inflammation and oxidative stress in brain tissue, culminating in both short- and long-term cognitive dysfunction and behavioral deficits. Within the brain, the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to a TBI. We studied a new pomalidomide (Pom) analog, namely, 3,6′-dithioPom (DP), and Pom as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiD) for mitigating TBI-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration, microgliosis, astrogliosis and behavioral impairments in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI in rats. Both agents were administered as a single intravenous dose (0.5 mg/kg) at 5 h post injury so that the efficacies could be compared. Pom and DP significantly reduced the contusion volume evaluated at 24 h and 7 days post injury. Both agents ameliorated short-term memory deficits and anxiety behavior at 7 days after a TBI. The number of degenerating neurons in the CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus after a TBI was reduced by Pom and DP. DP, but not Pom, significantly attenuated the TBI-induced microgliosis and DP was more efficacious than Pom at attenuating the TBI-induced astrogliosis in CA1 and DG at 7D after a TBI. In summary, a single intravenous injection of Pom or DP, given 5 h post TBI, significantly reduced hippocampal neurodegeneration and prevented cognitive deficits with a concomitant attenuation of the neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.

Severity of Ongoing Post-Concussive Symptoms as a Predictor of Cognitive Performance Following a Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Veronik Sicard ◽  
Danielle C. Hergert ◽  
Sharvani Pabbathi Reddy ◽  
Cidney R. Robertson-Benta ◽  
Andrew B. Dodd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Visual Learning ◽  
Learning Task ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Post Injury

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to examine the predictors of cognitive performance in patients with pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (pmTBI) and to determine whether group differences in cognitive performance on a computerized test battery could be observed between pmTBI patients and healthy controls (HC) in the sub-acute (SA) and the early chronic (EC) phases of injury. Method: 203 pmTBI patients recruited from emergency settings and 159 age- and sex-matched HC aged 8–18 rated their ongoing post-concussive symptoms (PCS) on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory and completed the Cogstate brief battery in the SA (1–11 days) phase of injury. A subset (156 pmTBI patients; 144 HC) completed testing in the EC (∼4 months) phase. Results: Within the SA phase, a group difference was only observed for the visual learning task (One-Card Learning), with pmTBI patients being less accurate relative to HC. Follow-up analyses indicated higher ongoing PCS and higher 5P clinical risk scores were significant predictors of lower One-Card Learning accuracy within SA phase, while premorbid variables (estimates of intellectual functioning, parental education, and presence of learning disabilities or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) were not. Conclusions: The absence of group differences at EC phase is supportive of cognitive recovery by 4 months post-injury. While the severity of ongoing PCS and the 5P score were better overall predictors of cognitive performance on the Cogstate at SA relative to premorbid variables, the full regression model explained only 4.1% of the variance, highlighting the need for future work on predictors of cognitive outcomes.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Volumetric Changes following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Tensor-Based Morphometry Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1006-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly D.M. Farbota ◽  
Aparna Sodhi ◽  
Barbara B. Bendlin ◽  
Donald G. McLaren ◽  
Guofan Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Degenerative Change ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽  
Volume Loss ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Brain White Matter

AbstractAfter traumatic injury, the brain undergoes a prolonged period of degenerative change that is paradoxically accompanied by cognitive recovery. The spatiotemporal pattern of atrophy and the specific relationships of atrophy to cognitive changes are ill understood. The present study used tensor-based morphometry and neuropsychological testing to examine brain volume loss in 17 traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and 13 controls over a 4-year period. Patients were scanned at 2 months, 1 year, and 4 years post-injury. High-dimensional warping procedures were used to create change maps of each subject's brain for each of the two intervals. TBI patients experienced volume loss in both cortical areas and white matter regions during the first interval. We also observed continuing volume loss in extensive regions of white matter during the second interval. Neuropsychological correlations indicated that cognitive tasks were associated with subsequent volume loss in task-relevant regions. The extensive volume loss in brain white matter observed well beyond the first year post-injury suggests that the injured brain remains malleable for an extended period, and the neuropsychological relationships suggest that this volume loss may be associated with subtle cognitive improvements. (JINS, 2012,18, 1–13)

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