The CDC reported that 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, each year. Traumatic brain injuries are considered a catastrophic injury that may be deadly. While diagnostic and treatment options for TBI have improved over time, older adults have sustained traumatic brain injuries more commonly than any other age group.
The Law Offices of J.G. Winter is led by California personal injury attorney Jeremy Winter. While traumatic brain injuries are dangerous to all age groups, the rising number of older adults suffering from a TBI is concerning, considering many older adults’ pre existing injuries. If you or a loved one are faced with a TBI, contact Attorney Winter today.
How Does a Prior TBI Affect the Aging Process for Older Adults?
When a person younger than the age of 65 suffers from a traumatic brain injury, they may recover, but they will likely still feel the effects of that injury as they age. It has been found that some individuals may even experience cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms throughout their lives. A past TBI may also affect an individual’s development and progression of neurodegenerative processes. Other ways that a prior traumatic brain injury may affect a person as they age include:
- Higher risk or dementia later in life
- Risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
- Risk of Parkinson’s disease
Even if an individual heals from a traumatic brain injury, the effects of the injury on them as they age can be equally or more damaging than the TBI, which is why it is important to seek medical consultation and check-ups from doctors continually.
Are Traumatic Brain Injuries More Damaging to Older Adults?
Individuals who are 65 years or older are at higher risk when it comes to traumatic brain injuries. Regardless of whether or not the patient has preexisting conditions, which is very common in adults of this age range, older adults who suffer from a traumatic brain injury have been found to suffer from geriatric-specific symptoms. Some examples of the damaging effects that a traumatic brain injury may have on older adults include:
- A traumatic brain injury that may be classified as mild for someone younger than 65 may be a risk for intracranial bleeding for older adults.
- After blunt head trauma, an older adult may produce a normal neurological exam but still show signs of suffering a traumatic brain injury.
- Older adults experience higher mortality or morbidity rates after suffering a TBI.
- Older adults experience slower recovery times and worse cognitive, functional, and psychological abilities.
Older adults are at risk when suffering from any injury. Still, because traumatic brain injuries are catastrophic, a person who has suffered a TBI should seek immediate medical attention.
What Are Common Causes of TBI In Older Adults?
A person who is 65 years or older may be highly susceptible to accidents that may cause a traumatic brain injury. Some common causes of traumatic brain injury in older adults include:
- Slips and falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Assaults
If your loved one has been injured in an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, it may be in your best interest to partner with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney to help you build a strong injury claim.
California Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney is Here to Help
Traumatic brain injuries, and any catastrophic injury, are damaging to the victim and their family members as they begin the long road to recovery. When a traumatic brain injury is caused by an accident due to another person’s negligence, you may want to contact a Sacramento TBI attorney with experience helping victims of TBI.
The Law Offices of J.G. Winter is led by award-winning attorney Jeremy Winter. Attorney Winter provides his employees with the experienced and dedicated representation needed to handle delicate cases like those dealing with a TBI in an older loved one. For a free consultation, contact us here or call (844) 734-2626.
