Aging With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Balance Deficits and Fall Risk
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
A moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring in early or middle adulthood might have long-lasting effects on the brain that can accelerate the decline of physical and cognitive function in older age. The proposed study seeks to better understand the implications of aging with a TBI, in order to help Veterans maintain their health and independence. The overarching hypothesis of this new line of research is that participants who experienced a moderate TBI in early or middle adulthood (at least 15 years prior to study enrollment) will have poorer performance on balance and cognitive tests, despite self-reporting no persistent motor or cognitive impairment from the TBI. The investigators also seek to evaluate the potential for practice-based learning and improvement of complex balance tasks in this population, to gain experience for conducting future rehabilitation studies. The long term goal of this line of research is to design rehabilitative and lifestyle interventions to preserve brain health and function in Veterans who have previously experienced a TBI.
Description
Accumulating research indicates that a TBI sustained in early or middle adulthood has the potential to influence the trajectory of the aging process, both in the context of brain function and whole-body health. People who consider themselves to be fully recovered and asymptomatic many years following a brain injury might actually exhibit poorer function than peers who did not experience a head injury. The TBI literature reveals compelling evidence that TBI can elicit long-term abnormal cascades of neuroendocrine and neuroinflammatory processes that alter the structural and functional integrity…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 50–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Enrollment Criteria for Participant with TBI (TBI+ group) Inclusion criteria * Age 50-75. People of this age normally do not exhibit substantial balance or cognitive impairments, so observing a clear deficit between groups will provide compelling evidence of a TBI-related effect. This "younger old" age group will also help to avoid other comorbid health conditions of older age that would increase variability (uncertainty) in the data set. * Prior history of moderate closed-head TBI at least 10 years prior to study enrollment. Single or multiple TBIs are acceptable. All pa…
Interventions
- BehavioralComplex Balance Tasks
The intervention will consist of a single session of practicing complex (cognitively engaging) balance tasks using an exergaming balance platform.
Location
- North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FLGainesville, Florida