Have any questions? 706-721-6582 or cts@augusta.edu
- Predictors of falls in older males and females with mild traumatic brain injury
Clinical Trial
Predictors of falls in older males and females with mild traumatic brain injury
Approximately 502,908 older adults ?65 years sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) every year in the United States, and 80.1% of these injuries are a result of a fall. There are sex differences in mTBI prevalence, such that 64.7% of older females sustain a mTBI compared to 35.3% of males. Older females also report more symptoms (i.e., headache, dizziness, nausea, fogginess), have a longer recovery, and require greater healthcare use than older males. However, the reason for these sex differences is not well understood. Furthermore, between 24-84% of those who sustain a mTBI have non-resolving issues of poor cognition, and impaired eye, head, and trunk movement 3 months after injury, which place them at a greater risk for falls. Given that older adults with mTBI express markers of frailty, and that falls are a significant public health issue, more research must be done to improve the health and quality of life in this population. Importantly, falls can be prevented through targeted screening protocols; yet, no studies have examined the predictors of falls among older adults with mTBI, or whether they differ by biological sex.
Eligibility Criteria
- -This study will include older adults 60 years of age and older who are seeking medical attention or still experiencing impairments as a result of sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury/concussion -Participants must understand, speak, and read English proficiently, and be able to walk 3 meters with or without an assistive device -We will exclude those with a progressive neurological condition other than mild traumatic brain injury/concussion, with a recent surgery affecting mobility, who are enrolled in another research study, with carotid sinus sensitivity, and/or receiving hospice care