How traumatic brain injuries affect aging and balance in older adults
Aging with a Traumatic Brain Injury: Implications for Balance Deficits and Fall Risk
This study is looking at how brain injuries from earlier in life might affect your balance and thinking skills as you get older, even if you feel like you've fully recovered, and it's for people who have had a traumatic brain injury and want to understand how it could impact their health in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10869965 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) sustained in early or middle adulthood can impact aging, particularly in terms of balance and cognitive function. It aims to understand whether individuals who believe they have fully recovered from a TBI may still experience long-term effects that could worsen their physical and cognitive abilities as they age. By examining the relationship between past TBIs and current health outcomes, the study seeks to identify potential interventions that could help mitigate these negative effects. Participants will undergo balance and cognitive testing to assess their performance compared to peers without a history of TBI.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who sustained a moderate TBI at least 15 years prior to enrollment.
Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury or are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions and lifestyle modifications for older adults who have experienced TBIs, enhancing their quality of life and reducing fall risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that TBIs can have long-lasting effects on health, suggesting that this investigation into aging with a TBI is both relevant and necessary.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, David J — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Clark, David J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.