It’s no secret that healing from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can take an extended period of time. Some brain injury survivors may never entirely recover and may suffer from permanent brain damage that impacts their future quality of life.
One of the lesser-known long-term side effects of a brain injury is the increased risk of developing dementia. Here’s what you need to know about the correlation between these two conditions.
Studies Link Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury
Over the last 30 years, more research has found a distinct connection between a person sustaining moderate to severe brain injuries and their risk of developing some form of dementia later on in life.
A Danish study published in 2018 reviewed data from 2.8 million TBI sufferers over a 25-year period. The key findings revealed:
- The overall risk of dementia for those with a history of TBI was 24% higher than those without a history.
- A TBI characterized as “severe” increased the risk of dementia by 35%.
- The risk of dementia was 33% higher for those with two to three TBIs, 61% higher for those with four TBIs, and 183% higher for those with five or more TBIs.
- Those who sustain a TBI in their 20s were 60% more likely to develop dementia in their 60s.
Dementia is a progressive disease that affects one’s cognitive and physical functions and increases the risk of premature death.
Helping You Seek Past, Present, and Future Damages
If you have suffered a brain injury due to the negligence of another person, you are entitled to receive compensation for past, present, and future damages. An experienced brain injury attorney at Kornfeld Law will be able to review your unique case and fight hard for what’s important—your recovery.
Contact our Seattle legal team at (425) 657-5255 to schedule your free case review. If you are at the hospital or at your home, we are more than willing to schedule a meeting wherever is most convenient for you.