





Military Helps Advance TBI Diagnosis For years the development of brain injury diagnosis and treatment research was based mainly on the fields of sports medicine and accident research. On the other side of the globe in Iraq and Afghanistan, American military have been suffering from similar types of brain injuries seen in athletes and victims of car accidents. On American roads, work places and playing fields, more than 11 million people have been hurt since the wars began overseas. Head Injuries Have Lasting Effects Nearly 1 out of 5 of American civilians who have suffered a head injury will struggle with lingering symptoms - headaches, dizziness, concentration difficulties and personality changes - for a year, and often longer. As their memories falter, their work suffers and their relationships fray, many victims of brain trauma don't realize that their cognitive struggles are even related to a blow to the head. Many returning U.S. troops know those symptoms well. In almost eight years of fighting in Afghanistan and more than six in Iraq, bomb blasts, vehicle crashes and other hazards of military duty are thought to have exacted between 48,000 and 360,000 traumatic brain injuries, mostly concussions, among service members. The problem for years has been acquiring adequate funding to advance the field of brain injury treatment and diagnosis. Our nation's military branches and veterans agencies have stepped into this funding void, investing heavily in research on brain injury and its aftermath. The combined surge of military investment and public increased public awareness, promises to bring both civilian and military brain injury victims a better means of diagnosing and treating brain trauma and limiting its toll. Some recent developments by the military include the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric. Learn more here. |

