| | | | | · Sleep disorders |
| The long-term outcome of traumatic brain injury | | | | · Fatigue |
| (TBI) is difficult (and sometimes impossible) to | | | | · Irritability |
| predict. While new breakthroughs are made every | | | | · Personality changes |
| day, still, very little is actually known about the brain. | | | | · Apathy |
| Some patients make a rapid and full recovery, even | | | | · Depression |
| from severe injuries, while others may experience | | | | · Confusion |
| permanent impairment from a minor concussion. | | | | · Difficulty concentrating |
| Symptoms can take months or even years to | | | | · Impaired attention |
| surface, and many people with TBI experience | | | | · Memory problems |
| improvements followed by setbacks, making | | | | · Slowed mental processing |
| recovery a slow and frustrating process. | | | | · Difficulty with abstract thinking |
| Overwhelming personality and behavioral changes can | | | | |
| make TBI frightening and confusing for victims and | | | | |
| their friends and family. More than anything, TBI | | | | Alzheimer’s Disease |
| victims need the understanding and support of loved | | | | AD is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease |
| ones. | | | | characterized by dementia, memory loss, and |
| | | | deteriorating cognitive abilities. Recent research |
| Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS) | | | | indicates an association between head injury in early |
| PCS is a combination of disorders from which TBI | | | | adulthood and the development of Alzheimer’s |
| victims often suffer. Although recognized for over | | | | later in life. The more severe the head injury, the |
| 100 years, PCS is still a controversial subject within | | | | greater the are the chances of developing AD later in |
| the medical community, making support, treatment, | | | | life. |
| and therapy difficult for many victims to obtain. | | | | |
| Symptoms of PCS include: | | | | Parkinson’s Disease (and other motor problems) |
| · Headaches | | | | Movement disorders as a result of TBI are rare but |
| · Dizziness | | | | do occur. Parkinson’s may develop years after |
| · Nausea | | | | TBI as a result of damage to the basal ganglia. |
| · Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) | | | | Symptoms of PD include tremor or trembling, rigidity |
| · Sensitivity to noise | | | | or stiffness, slow movement, inability to move, |
| · Sensitivity to light | | | | shuffling walk and stooped posture. |
| · Vision problems | | | | |