Simply put, TBI, or traumatic brain injury, happens when sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. This can be when the head suddenly or violently hits or is hit by an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain. Symptoms vary depending on the extent of the damage to the brain.
Symptoms can include headaches, vision and hearing problems, sleep problems, memory problems, slower thinking, irritability, and depression. Scientists have found a link between multiple TBIs and conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (formerly Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center) reports that between 2000 and 2019, over 414,000 military personnel suffered TBI. Over 185,000 Veterans have been diagnosed with at least one TBI.
A 2020 study led by the VA San Diego Health Care System found that Veterans and service members with TBI are more likely to also have PTSD. Both TBI and PTSD can cause changes in the part of the brain that processes emotions such as fear, anxiety, and anxiety.
Thankfully, there is hope and support.
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