Study Finds Traumatic Brain Injury May Increase Risk of Early-Age Dementia

Each year, some 1.7 million Americans suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many of them are sustained in work accidents and work-related traffic or machinery accidents, so workers’ compensation may be an option. Sadly, though, the compensation may not be enough to make up for the lifelong complications that a victim may experience. For example, a recent study has found that TBI may increase the risk of early-age dementia. Learn more about this risk and what it could mean for your work injury case.

The link between traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been known. However, there are few comprehensive studies on the degeneration in working adults, which can be crucial when it comes to determining the compensation they may be entitled to in a work injury case. For example, does the risk of a degenerative brain disease hit later in life, or are victims at risk for early symptoms? According to the study, the latter appears to be true.

After monitoring over 40,000 working adults who survived a TBI for ten years, researchers found that the risk of degenerative brain disease was higher for middle-aged men. The worse the TBI, the higher the risk. Researchers also concluded that the risk was not diminished by socioeconomic factors, increased education, or other factors. Even more interesting is that many of the victims who later developed dementia had seemingly recovered from their injuries.

Workers’ compensation is supposed to compensate victims for the injuries they sustain. True, it is rarely enough to cover the actual expenses or losses that victims experience, but the real issue here is that long-term effects like dementia may not be considered in a TBI work injury case. What this means is that traumatic brain injury sufferers may experience a decrease in the years they can work, which can place their family at risk for long-term financial devastation. Worse yet, that loss may go uncompensated if it is not immediately associated with the injury.

At Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard, LLP, we know that your future is on your line, and we will work hard to ensure that all factors are considered in your work injury case. Dedicated and experienced, our San Jose work injury lawyers offer free initial consultations to help you get started. Schedule yours by calling our offices at (408) 289-1417 today.

• Traumatic brain injury associated with dementia in working-age adults