Recovery after mild traumatic brain injury in older adults
Recovery Among Older Adults Following Mild TBI
This project will follow people 65 and older who had a mild TBI to see how their thinking, physical abilities, mood, and sleep change over the year after injury.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 250 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Maryland, Baltimore Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT07569354 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This prospective cohort will enroll 250 adults aged 65 and older treated for mild TBI at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center or affiliated University of Maryland hospitals. Participants will be enrolled within 72 hours of injury and followed at 2 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months to measure cognitive, physical, psychological, and sleep outcomes. The study will use clinical records, imaging when available, and standardized tests and questionnaires to map recovery trajectories. Researchers will analyze which baseline factors, such as age, comorbidities, and injury characteristics, are associated with better or worse recovery.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 65 or older who were treated for a mild TBI at the listed Maryland hospitals within 72 hours of injury, are expected to be ambulatory at two weeks, and have no history of dementia.
Not a fit: Patients with severe injuries to other body regions, a prior diagnosis of dementia, those not expected to be ambulatory at two weeks, or those treated outside the participating hospitals are unlikely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify recovery patterns and risk factors that help tailor rehabilitation and reduce long-term cognitive decline in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Most prior TBI research has focused on younger adults, so few studies have characterized recovery trajectories in older adults and this cohort addresses a relatively understudied area.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Aged 65 years or older * Treated for mild TBI (defined below) at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center (STC) or at one of six University of Maryland Affiliated Hospitals within 72 hours of injury * Mild TBI was defined as: * Traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function, as manifested by at least one of the following 1) loss of consciousness ≤30 minutes, post-traumatic amnesia \<24 hours, observed or self-reported transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness, or neurologic deficit as defined by a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-14 on admission. * GCS of 15 with no other evidence of mild TBI was also accepted with positive computed tomography image. Exclusion criteria * Injury to any other body region resulting in an abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score \>2 * Anticipation that patient would not be ambulatory at 2-weeks post-injury * History of dementia as determined by patient/proxy report or medical history * Non-ambulatory pre-injury * No available proxy * Not English speaking * Prisoners * Live \>55 miles from the STC.
Where this trial is running
Baltimore, Maryland
- University of Maryland, Baltimore — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer Albrecht, PhD — University of Maryland
- Study coordinator: Jennifer Albrecht, PhD
- Email: jalbrecht@som.umaryland.edu
- Phone: 410-706-0071
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.