Mild TBI May Increase Risk of Parkinson’s

Among military veterans, mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a 56% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease over 12 years of follow-up, according to data published in Neurology Reviews.

Every year, mild TBI affects an estimated 42 million people worldwide. It is especially common among athletes and military personnel and is a growing epidemic among the elderly.

What Is a Mild TBI?

Researchers defined moderate to severe TBI as a loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes, alteration of consciousness for more than 24 hours, or amnesia for more than 24 hours. They defined mild TBI as loss of consciousness for zero to 30 minutes, alteration of consciousness for a moment to 24 hours, or amnesia for zero to 24 hours.

A total of 325,870 patients were included in the study with an average age of 47.9 and an average follow-up of 4.6 years. In all, 1,462 patients were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease during follow-up. After adjusting for age, sex, race, education, and other health conditions, the researchers found that patients with moderate severity of TBI had a 71% increased risk of Parkinson’s disease and participants with severe TBI had an 83% increased risk. The worse the injury, the greater the risk.

Neurology Reviews. 2018 June;26(6):42-43 Click here to read full article.

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury of some sort, so much can be done to help. Call our office at 480-951-5006, or schedule your appointment here.

Treating the root cause of your condition, not just your symptoms, is the fastest way to recovery and is the best way to obtain optimal health and wellness.