A brain injury can double your risk of developing dementia. Learn about what causes dementia, different types of dementia, and how to lower your risk.

Stroke, Brain Injury, and Dementia: is there a link?

Experiencing a brain injury is a huge, life-altering event. But even after the
rehab, the outpatient therapy, and the lifestyle modifications, there can be
another fear- will having a brain injury or a stroke lead to dementia in the
future?

In this article
 * What is the link between brain injury and dementia?
 * Why might a brain injury lead to dementia?
 * Who is at risk of developing dementia after brain injury?
 * What can be done to reduce the risk of developing dementia?
 * Resources for people with dementia

 What is the link between brain injury and dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of cognitive and communicative
deficits. Memory loss, executive functioning deficits, communication impairments
and challenging behavior are the hallmarks of a dementia diagnosis. This can be
extremely difficult for the person and their family, who have already endured a
brain injury.

The link between brain injury and dementia is clear. Dementia affects 50 million
people worldwide, and studies show that people who sustain an injury to the
brain are twice as likely to develop dementia post-injury.

Both brain injury and dementia can cause brain atrophy, disrupting brain cell
connections and communication.Why might a brain injury lead to dementia?
Why certain injury to the brain can cause dementia in older age is not always
clear, though there are many working theories.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, estimated to
affect 5.5 million people in America today. AD accounts for between 60-80% of
all cases of dementia, and is caused by an abnormal buildup of proteins in the
brain, which interrupt and disrupt the messages being sent within the brain
itself.

Some research shows that injury to the blood-brain-barrier, a membrane that
selectively filters nutrients from the bloodstream into the brain, has a strong
link to subsequent development of Alzheimer’s. The blood brain barrier can be
damaged by hypoxia- oxygen deprivation that may be caused by a blockage- or by a
traumatic brain injury.

Vascular dementia (VD), the second most commonly experienced dementia, is a
step-wise decline in function as a result of several strokes. Strokes often
cause temporary or long-lasting damage to the tissues in the brain, and the
amount of recovery to these tissues may vary. When multiple strokes or brain
injuries occur, the brain is not be able to heal fully, in time leading to VD.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), is a brain condition associated with
multiple blows to the head and sometimes experienced by football players,
boxers, or those with repeated falls. CTE has been linked with early onset of
dementia, likely owing to some of the reasons above- non-healing injuries, and
disruption to the BBB leading to accumulations of protein tangles in the brain.

From left to right: a healthy neuron (brain cell), a neuron with amyloid plaque
buildup as seen in Alzheimer's disease, and a dead neuron being digested by
microglia cells.Who is at risk of developing dementia after brain injury?
The incidence of those who develop dementia after a brain injury is estimated to
be about two-fold of those in the general population. The risk factors that may
make someone more susceptible to dementia include:

 * a Hemorrhagic versus Ischemic stroke (a bleed versus a blockage). This may be
   linked to the diffuse nature of a bleed, and the possible disruption of the
   blood-brain-barrier.
 * a stroke or brain injury occurring at a younger age; regardless of type,
   people who sustain an injury at a younger age are at an increased risk of
   developing dementia over the course of their lifespan.

Persons are also at the highest risk of dementia one year post-injury. After the
one year mark, the increased risk persists across all types of brain
injury/stroke, but at lower levels than before.

What can be done to reduce the risk of developing dementia?
Decreasing the risk of developing dementia when a brain injury or stroke has
occurred is all about working on brain health and recovery. Keeping the brain
healthy and allowing the damaged tissues to repair to their fullest extent may
delay or even arrest later development of dementia.

The gold standard of dementia risk reduction includes physical activity, healthy
living, cognitive engagement, and taking control of the reasons that a brain
injury may have occurred in the first place.

Physical rehabilitation post-brain injury is essential to make sure that
physical and medical issues are addressed. It is so important to be able to
operate at the highest level possible, to live as healthfully as possible, even
after a brain injury. Regular cardiovascular exercise
[https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/exercise/early-middle-dementia] 
will increase oxygenation in the body, which is necessary to help heal and
improve brain health.

Eating more healthfully and avoiding overly fatty and processed foods will also
improve brain health. Some research shows supplementation with vitamins,
especially Vitamin K and Omega-3s, can help reduce risk of developing dementia.

Challenging your cognition
[https://www.cherrywoodpointe.com/brain-games-for-dementia-patients-keeping-a-sharp-mind/#:~:text=The%20options%20are%20nearly%20endless,specifically%20for%20people%20with%20dementia.]
, and maintaining engagement with cognitive tasks will also help to strengthen
your brain. The process of learning may increase neural connections in the
brain, essential for communication, memory, and other cognitive functions.

Meditation and mindfulness
[https://www.lcbseniorliving.com/blog/mindfulness-exercises-for-seniors/] has
been shown to increase grey matter in the brain, unequivocally improving
cognition and brain health.

Resources for those at risk
Family conflict [https://arcseminars.net/support-caregivers-dementia/] abounds
in the diagnosis of dementia- seek out support groups through the Alzheimer's
Association [https://www.alz.org/help-support/community/support-groups].

Looking for cognitive solutions for someone with a brain injury or stroke? Check
out Neofect Cognition [https://www.neofect.com/us/cognition] and the Neofect
Smart Pegboard [https://www.neofect.com/us/smart-pegboard].

Brain Injury

Brain Injury and Dementia: Is There a Link?

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the central nervous system.

What is Multiple Sclerosis and How Can an Exercise Routine Help?



Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system
to attack the central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the
brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Within the central nervous system, the
nerve cells send each other messages through the use of axons. Axons have a
protective outer layer called myelin. Multiple Sclerosis will cause your immune
system to attack the myelin which in turn begins to create lesions within the
central nervous system. The creation of these lesions makes it difficult for the
central nervous system to function correctly. The lesions also make it difficult
for the brain to send messages to the rest of the body. As more lesions form, it
can lead to physical and cognitive changes.

Multiple Sclerosis affects people all around the world. According to the 
Multiple Sclerosis Society [https://www.nationalmssociety.org/] Multiple
Sclerosis affects more women than men and most people are diagnosed between the
ages of 20 and 50 years old. It is estimated that 1 million people are living
with Multiple Sclerosis in the United States and 2.3 million people are living
with Multiple Sclerosis globally.

Multiple Sclerosis can cause many symptoms, and those diagnosed may show some or
all of these symptoms. The symptoms may change over time as the disease
progresses. The most common symptoms include:

Fatigue
Decreased balance
Muscle weakness
Muscles spasms
Tremors
[https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms/Tremor]
Acute and or chronic pain
Change in vision
Numbness and tingling in extremities
Decreased attention spans
Difficulties with learning new tasks
Decreased memory
Difficulties with word finding



There are 4 different types of Multiple Sclerosis. Someone can only have 1 type
of Multiple Sclerosis at a time but the type may change as it progresses. The 4
different types of Multiple Sclerosis are as follows:

Clincially Isolated Syndrome (CIS): CIS involves one episode of symptoms that
usually lasts around 24 hours. These symptoms are caused by demyelination
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1860500/] in the central nervous
system. This one episode is not enough to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis. An MRI
will be done and if no lesions are present then no diagnosis is made and you are
less likely to develop Multiple Sclerosis in the future. However, if there is a
lesion present you are more likely to be diagnosed with Relapsing- Remitting
Multiple Sclerosis.
Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS): This is the most common form of
Multiple Sclerosis at onset. RRMS is when your symptoms come and go over time.
When you are in remission the disease does not progress at all.
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ( PPMS): If you are diagnosed with PPMS
it means that your symptoms are progressively getting worse than when you were
first diagnosed. However, you may exhibit short periods when your symptoms
improve.
Secondary Progress Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS): If you are diagnosed with SPMS it
means that you may be undergoing worsening symptoms of the disease from the
start.

Currently there is no cure for Multiple Sclerosis. However, there are many
treatments available to help address the symptoms and decrease the acceleration
of the disease. If you have Multiple Sclerosis you may feel like staying in bed
all day because you may feel as if performing exercises will make your muscle
fatigue or pain worse. This is the complete opposite of the truth. In order to
combat Multiple Sclerosis and help improve some of your symptoms, it is vital
that you exercise daily. Exercise when you have been diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis has been proven to overall increase endurance, strength in the arms
and legs, bowel and bladder function, improvement with cognitive function,
decrease fatigue, and improve your mood.

If you have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and do not exercise
regularly, your muscles will start to atrophy
[https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003188.htm] and become weaker which in
turn can cause decreased bone density and put you at a higher risk for falling
and sustaining a fracture. Not exercising can also lead to low endurance and
shallowing breathing.



It is important to get approval from your physician before you start an exercise
routine. Once you are cleared to start a routine it is a good idea to meet with
a physical or occupational therapist that specializes in Multiple Sclerosis.
When exercising it is very important to remember to stay hydrated and cool.
Being dehydrated and too hot when exercising can temporarily heighten your
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms.

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.