Skip to main content

Traumatic Brain Injury Linked to Cognitive Decline in Twin Study

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2023 -- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with cognitive decline later in life, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in Neurology.

Marianne Chanti-Ketterl, Ph.D., from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues utilized a twin registry to examine the association between lifetime TBI and cognitive decline. Members of the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council Twin Registry of male veterans of World War II with self or proxy reported history of TBI and with up to four observations over 12 years of the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) were included. The association between TBI and TICS-m was analyzed in the full sample and among cotwins discordant for TBI. Data were included for 8,662 participants; 25 percent reported TBI.

The researchers found that history of any TBI, TBI with loss of consciousness (LOC), and older-age (25+ years) TBI were associated with lower TICS-m scores at age 70 years (β, −0.56, −0.51, and −0.66, respectively). Associations with faster cognitive decline were seen for TBI with LOC, more than one TBI, and older-age TBI (β, −0.03, −0.05, and −0.06, respectively). Among 589 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for TBI, a history of TBI and older-age TBI were associated with lower TICS-m scores at age 70 years (β, −0.55 and −0.74, respectively). Compared with their cotwin without TBI, those with more than one TBI and older-age TBI showed greater cognitive decline (β, −0.13 and −0.07, respectively).

"Although these effect sizes are modest, the contribution of TBI on late life cognition, in addition to numerous other factors with a detrimental effect on cognition, may be enough to trigger an evaluation for cognitive impairment," Chanti-Ketterl said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted September 2023

Read this next

Low Incidence of Delayed Intracranial Hemorrhage Seen in Seniors After Head Injury

WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024 -- Older emergency department head trauma patients appear to have a very low incidence of delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after head injury, with no...

Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam Improves Detection of Cognitive Issues in Primary Care

TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- A self-administered gerocognitive examination (SAGE) is easily incorporated into primary care provider (PCP) visits, and its use significantly increases...

Liberal Transfusion Strategy Not Beneficial for Patients With TBI, Anemia

MONDAY, July 1, 2024 -- A liberal transfusion strategy does not reduce the risk of unfavorable neurologic outcome at six months among critically ill patients with traumatic brain...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.