Leo Sher, M.D.

A research report, “Traumatic brain injury in U.S. veterans: Prevalence and associations with physical, mental, and cognitive health” has been published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation online ahead of print (1). The authors examined the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the U.S. veteran population, and physical, mental, and cognitive health conditions associated with TBI.

Veterans with probable TBI (n=943) and without probable TBI (n=3,033) were included in the study. Among the full sample, 24.5% had probable TBI. In adjusted analyses, probable TBI was independently associated with greater odds of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, kidney disease, pulmonary disease, arthritis, migraine, sleep disorders, and osteoporosis or osteopenia. Veterans with probable TBI also had higher odds of mild cognitive impairment, probable current anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The authors conclude that results of their study underscore the importance of multidisciplinary interventions that concurrently target the unique physical, mental, cognitive, and functional health needs of this population.

Reference

1. Karr JE, Rippey CS, Hubert TJ, Stein MB, Adams TG, Pietrzak RH. Traumatic brain injury in U.S. veterans: Prevalence and associations with physical, mental, and cognitive health. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Nov 27:S0003-9993(24)01368-6. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.11.010. Epub ahead of print.