Author Archives: Jacob Masters
Study of Combat Veterans Finds Link Between TBI and Dementia
A newly published medical study involving more than 100,000 military veterans provides evidence of a positive link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and developing dementia later in life. The findings suggest that civilians who experience a brain injury would also be at greater risk of developing brain injury. “TBI in older veterans was associated with a 60 percent increase in the risk of developing dementia,” researchers wrote in a study published by Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and reported by Tech Times and other publications. “Our results suggest that TBI in older veterans may predispose them toward development of symptomatic dementia and raise concern about …
Are NFL’s Concussion and Domestic Violence Problems Linked?
Several articles have come out in early September examining whether there may be a connection between two problems currently plaguing the National Football League: Concussions and domestic violence. Concussions are a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They have been a major problem in the NFL – and all levels of the sport – for many years. In 2013 alone, 228 concussions were diagnosed among NFL players, according to the league’s annual Health & Safety Report. The problem has recently received heightened attention due to research indicating a link between repeated concussions and brain disease such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally, the NFL is now facing a class-action …
Back to College Means Back to Accidents
As parents say goodbye to their children heading back to college, or area residents welcome students back to schools, our thoughts turn to college students and the cars they drive. More specifically, there is reason to be concerned about the increase in car accidents and traumatic brain injury (TBI) when college students return to school. About 70 percent of college-age students own or have access to cars, according to College Parents of America. In addition to increased congestion in areas around college campuses once fall semester begins, there is typically an increase in accidents, including accidents that can cause TBI. “For many students, the first year of college is a …
Prevention and Treatment of Brain Injuries in Babies and Toddlers
Children are society’s most vulnerable population, so stories of a baby or toddler being injured naturally trigger strong emotions. When a child suffers a brain injury, those emotions often go into overdrive because, unlike other types of injuries, those impacting the brain can lead to developmental impairment, lifelong challenges, and even death. Sadly, brain injuries among young children are not entirely uncommon. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2001 and 2010, children aged 0-4 had the highest rates of brain injury resulting in a hospital emergency room visit. So, what is being done to prevent and mitigate brain injuries in very young children? …
Researchers Spot Surge in ER Visits for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Greater awareness of problems stemming from blows to the head could be leading to a major increase in the number of traumatic brain injuries, according to new research. A study analyzing patient information from 950 hospitals nationwide found 2.5 million people were admitted to emergency rooms for treatment of traumatic brain injuries in 2010. That marked a 29 percent increase over 2006, even though emergency department visits went up just 3.6 percent in the same time frame, according to the study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Concussions in Young Children and Seniors Drive TBI Spike Concussions and other unspecified injuries – many of which were …
Don’t Become a Statistic: Reduce Brain Injuries by Stopping Texting and Driving
Five seconds. That’s about how long a driver takes his or her eyes off the road when reading or responding to a text. It doesn’t seem like a very long period of time until you realize that, at 55 mph, 5 seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. Texting while driving is hands down the most dangerous form of distracted driving because it requires the use of manual, visual, and cognitive skills. The driver’s eyes, hands and focus are off the road, leaving him or her vulnerable, as well as anyone else who’s in the car or unlucky enough to be on the …
Danger at Sea: Silent Cancer - Asbestos at Large
For well over a century, courageous men and women, enlisted in the Navy, have braved the seas to protect the United States; a country they are proud to fight for. Decades later, these same war heroes are fighting for their own lives as they struggle with life threatening diseases as a result to years of asbestos exposure. Navy veterans, who struggle with asbestos-related diseases, are diagnosed too late and often given a bleak prognosis, leaving many veterans feeling abandoned by the country they fought for. Long-term Asbestos Exposure Leads to Fatal Diseases Asbestos, a natural mineral which was mined in the U.S. between the late 1880’s through the late 1970’s, …
Music and Your Brain: A Deadly Lullaby of Distracted Driving
Once the first car radio was rolled out by Gavin Corporation (Motorola) in 1930, there was no turning back. Since then, we’ve been accompanied on our drives by music from retractable record players, 8-track and cassette players, satellite radio, MP3 players, and iPODs. Technology doesn’t come without its downside, though. Auto accidents caused by distracted drivers injured an estimated 421,000 people in 2012, and listening to music while driving was a factor in many of those accidents. It’s estimated that 9 people die every day as a result of distracted driving, which can include anything from changing the song on the radio to talking to a passenger, or placing a …
Social Security Disability Benefits for Brain Injuries
Severe brain injuries that cause lasting impairments are qualified for disability benefits. Meeting the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) eligibility requirements means you must satisfy both the medical and the technical criteria in order to receive benefits. Qualifying Brain Injuries There are a number of brain injury types that qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, and the SSA actually does not distinguish between them when it comes to evaluating a disability claim. While a definitive diagnosis of the form of brain injury is required for approval, the SSA reviews all brain injuries under the listing for cerebral trauma, which appears in Section 11.08 of the Blue Book. Traumatic Brain Injury …
Texting While Driving Vs. Drunk Driving: Which Is More Dangerous?
For decades, drunk driving has been at the forefront of debate. Stricter laws have been passed across the nation leading to a decrease in drunk driving accidents. However, a new driving threat is quickly taking its place. That threat is texting while driving – and many say that it is actually more dangerous than drunk driving. Comparing The Two: Texting While Driving Is Like Drinking 4 Beers The impairments associated with drunk driving and texting while driving are similar, according to the National Highway & Transportation Administration (NHTSA) website, distraction.org. Both cause distraction and impaired driving that can result in following too closely, not being able to brake on time …
