Raising Awareness for the Lasting Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury: Shae Datta, MD

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

"Psychiatry is also a big component because a lot of time their mood is affected. TBI can run the whole gamut. A lot of times I’m referring to my sleep medicine colleagues, as well as those in endocrinology because the hormones can be messed up after a traumatic brain injury in both men and women."

Brain Injury Awareness Month, recognized each March, is a social campaign dedicated to bringing awareness to traumatic brain injury (TBI) prevention and improve overall quality of life for those living with TBIs. TBIs, which may include accidental head injury, sports-related head injuries, and abusive head trauma, are the leading cause of death and disability in children. Most cases of TBI are mild; however, even mild TBI can lead to debilitating symptoms.

Manifestations of TBI come on in phases, with a cascade of neurometabolic changes that affect the brain in complex and heterogeneous ways over a timespan ranging from days to years. Several patients with TBI experience cognitive loss, behavioral problems, headaches, and visual disturbances. To raise awareness about some of the longterm impacts of TBI, NeurologyLive® sat down with Shae Datta, MD, a neurologist and migraine expert at NYU Langone Health. Datta spoke on some of the most pressing topics regarding TBI, including its detection, the symptoms associated, and the types of care needed.