Over 65? Reduce Risks for Brain Injury

by Barbara Stahura

The human brain is one of the most magnificent and mysterious objects in the universe. Yet, having the consistency of gelatin and floating in a bony case with rough interior ridges, it is amazingly susceptible to injury. The injury doesn’t have to be catastrophic in itself to produce terrible consequences. As researchers are learning from recent studies of athletes, numerous tiny blows to the head over time can lead to crippling cognitive deficits.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often called the "silent epidemic." About 1.5 million American sustain a TBI every year, and about 5 million of them are living with permanent disabilities, some severe. The most common causes are falls, motor vehicle crashes, sports, domestic and street violence, and blows to the head. Not surprisingly, TBI is also common in war, and the two wars the U.S. is currently waging are no exception. TBI has, in fact, become the "signature wound" of those conflicts, with some reliable sources estimating that up 300,000 military personnel have sustained a TBI, mostly from exposure to blasts. While some war-related TBIs are devastating, most of them are classified as "mild." However, even a so-called mild TBI (mTBI) can leave a person with subtle cognitive damage, and several of them over time can lead to more serious, permanent problems.

Age and TBI

No matter your age, if you have a brain, you are susceptible to a TBI. But you are more likely to sustain one if you are 65 or older. Falling is the most common cause. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among Americans age 65 and older, TBI caused by falls led to nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005. Every year, one in three Americans in that age group experiences a fall, 30 percent of which require admission to the hospital, and these TBIs account for 50 percent of all deaths from unintentional falls.

Furthermore, seniors who sustain a TBI tend to experience poorer outcomes and more deaths than people younger than 55. Those 55 and older had longer stays in rehabilitation, took about twice as long to recover, and had greater cognitive impairment upon discharge. However, those in better health at the time of injury had better outcomes than those in poorer health.

There are financial consequences, too. The majority of  men and women hospitalized with a TBI related to a fall spent two to six days there. The median total charges for their hospital stays were $19,191 for men and $16,006 for women. It is predicted that the burden on the American healthcare system caused by falls among the elderly will only increase if action is not taken to reduce falls.

Reduce Fall Risks

You can do your part to reduce your risk of falling, for yourself and those you love. Fortunately, you may already be using some fall-prevention strategies since many of them are simply common sense.

• Exercise regularly to improve your strength and balance.
• Ensure that your home is safe from common causes of falling—eliminate trip hazards such as throw rugs and items left on stairs or in walking areas; install good lighting so you’re less likely to trip; install handrails on stairs and in bathrooms; use non-slip mats in bathtubs and showers; wear supportive shoes with non-slip soles.
• Have regular vision checks, since poor vision can increase your chances of falling.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines—prescribed and over-the-counter—and discuss changing them if they make you dizzy or lightheaded.
• If you ride a bike, motorcycle, or horse, wear a helmet.

For more information about TBI

BrainLine – http://www.brainline.org

Brain Injury Association of America – http://www.biausa.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury