Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
09:49
Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
Traumatic Brain Injury in the Elderly: Is it as Bad as we Think?
Calvin H K Mak1, Stephen K H Wong, George K Wong
1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Current Translational Geriatrics and Experimental Gerontology Reports
|September 10, 2013
Summary
Elderly traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing concern, often caused by falls. While older adults generally have worse outcomes, some younger elderly individuals may recover similarly to younger adults after mild to moderate head injuries.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in elderly patients represents a significant and often overlooked global health challenge.
- Falls are the primary cause of geriatric TBI, followed by motor vehicle accidents.
- The review examines the impact of comorbidities and pre-injury medications (e.g., antiplatelets, anticoagulants) on TBI outcomes in older adults.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on geriatric TBI, covering epidemiology, pathology, and clinical outcomes.
- It discusses functional, cognitive, and psychiatric complications following TBI in the elderly.
- The review also explores animal models and stem cell research to understand aging's role in TBI recovery.
Key Points:
- Elderly individuals generally experience poorer outcomes after TBI compared to younger populations.
- Factors such as comorbidities and specific medications significantly influence recovery.
- Certain subgroups, specifically the "younger elderly" (65-75 years), may achieve outcomes comparable to younger adults after minor to moderate head injuries.
Conclusions:
- Geriatric TBI requires focused attention due to its substantial disease burden.
- Understanding the influence of aging, comorbidities, and medications is crucial for improving TBI care in the elderly.
- Further research, including animal models and stem cell therapies, holds promise for enhancing recovery in this vulnerable population.
Keywords:
AgingAnimal studiesAnticoagulationAntiplateletAspirinClopidogrelCognitiveCraniotomyDecompressive craniectomyDrugsElderlyEpidemiologyGeriatricOutcomeReviewStem cellTraumatic brain injuryWarfarinMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:20Traumatic Memory
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...