Brain Injury and Neurodegenerative Disease: Studying Athletes and Military Veterans-Session Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Dan Danischvary discusses the neurodegenerative sequelae of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and repetitive head impacts in this presentation. He highlights studies showing higher rates of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS, in athletes with head impact exposure. He explains the pathology of tauopathy and chronicles how chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is characterized by the abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. He emphasizes the dose-response relationship between the number of years of head impact exposure and the likelihood of developing CTE. Dr. Danischvary concludes by emphasizing the need for further research on the underlying mechanisms of CTE and the development of prevention and treatment strategies.<br /><br />Dr. Sifu discusses the long-term effects of TBI in military personnel and veterans. He presents findings from a cohort study of over 3,000 service members and veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, highlighting the absence of neurodegenerative cognitive decline in the cohort. He also mentions the prevalence of repetitive blast injuries and the use of electronic data to correlate variables and outcomes. Dr. Sifu emphasizes the importance of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) in brain injury research and invites collaboration with their team.<br /><br />Overall, both speakers discuss the long-term effects of TBI in different populations and highlight the need for continued research and multidisciplinary interventions to address these issues.

Keywords

neurodegenerative sequelae

traumatic brain injuries

repetitive head impacts

dementia

Alzheimer's disease

Parkinson's disease

ALS

chronic traumatic encephalopathy

CTE

long-term effects of TBI

military personnel