The latest research from the University of Oklahoma finds that a significant number of severe cognitive and physical problems
continue to persist eight years after the date of a post-concussion syndrome event for individuals who experienced head trauma or blast injuries. Th effects of these types of injuries do not easily fade away over time with some rest as some may think. Instead, this research study found that the resulting problems do not decline for most veterans in respect to their intensity.
This retrospective study found that many veterans who had a traumatic brain injury or experienced blast injuries continued to report four to eight years later that they were experiencing a severe level of problems making decisions (35%), having headaches (48%), poor coordination (20%), dizziness (11%), and problems with balance (11%). Many veterans also reported mild and to moderate levels of depression and memory problems.
“What this says is we’re not seeing recovery in veterans with these head injuries,” said Dr. James R. Couch, a professor of neurology at the University of Oklahoma medical school and the lead author. “In fact, there is a tendency that things are getting just a little worse.”
Dr Couch recommends early treatment in order to help address and prevent the continued impact of brain injury symptoms.
His recommendation for prospective research studies can also help to identify what treatment interventions are most effective in reducing the sequela of brain injuries.
Reference links:
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/symptoms-of-traumatic-brain-injury-can-persist-for-years/?src=recg
https://www.americanheadachesociety.org/assets/1/7/couch_abstract.pdf