Long-Term Neurological Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Many patients recover following even a severe brain injury and go on to make a good physical recovery such that to an outside observer they would appear to be “normal.”

However, as many family members, friends, and work colleagues will attest, the legacy of even a mild head injury can be neurologically and psychologically challenging for all those involved, not least for the patient themselves. Many of these issues can have a significant impact on a person’s life whether it is interpersonal with family and friends, occupational with return to the workplace, or recreational, which in some cases may entail returning to an activity that precipitated the original injury.

Broadly speaking, these issues can be categorized as behavioral or degenerative. Behavioral issues can be physical, emotional, or cognitive, and these often manifest in the recovery period and may improve over time. Early recognition of these issues is important in order to counsel patients and their families appropriately and where possible instigate appropriate therapies. Degenerative issues often develop many years after the initial injury or injuries, and they are generally progressive in nature. These are meant to represent the long-term consequences of the initial traumatic insult; however, in reality, separating out a delayed neurodegenerative response from the effects of the primary injury can be difficult.