Military traumatic brain injury: a review

Julie C Chapman; Ramon Diaz-Arrastia

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.012

Military traumatic brain injury: a review

Alzheimers Dement. 2014 Jun;10(3 Suppl):S97-104. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.012.

Authors

Julie C Chapman¹, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia²

Affiliations

¹ Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA; Neurology Department, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA; Neurology Department, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.

PMID: 24924680
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.04.012

Abstract

Military mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) differs from civilian injury in important ways. Although mTBI sustained in both military and civilian settings are likely to be underreported, the combat theater presents additional obstacles to reporting and accessing care. The impact of blast forces on the nervous system may differ from nonblast mechanisms, mTBI although studies comparing the neurologic and cognitive sequelae in mTBI survivors have not provided such evidence. However, emotional distress appears to figure prominently in symptoms following military mTBI. This review evaluates the extant literature with an eye towards future research directions.

Keywords: Blast injury; Combat; Concussion; Military personnel; Traumatic brain injury; Veterans.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Blast Injuries / complications
Blast Injuries / diagnosis
Blast Injuries / epidemiology
Blast Injuries / physiopathology
Brain Injuries / diagnosis
Brain Injuries / epidemiology
Brain Injuries / etiology
Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
Brain Injury, Chronic / epidemiology
Brain Injury, Chronic / physiopathology
Comorbidity
Humans
Mental Disorders / epidemiology
Mental Disorders / physiopathology
Military Personnel*