News
Functional MRI Detects Changes in Mild TBI
Functional MRI has improved the clinician’s ability to pinpoint areas of dysfunction in the brain following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). The symptoms associated with Mild TBI have been difficult to identify through older technology and often the diagnosis has relied on the skills of physicians and neuropsychologists who had experience with individuals with mTBI. The use of Functional MRI expands the tools available to the clinician and hopefully will support the early recognition of the subtle cognitive, physical and psychological problems associated with mTBI and post-concussion syndrome and encourage aggressive intervention.Through Functional MRI specific areas of the brain can be evaluated and the level of impairment assessed.
People who have experienced mTBI face challenges of altered memory and processing functions, mood state dysregulation and pain syndromes which interfere with life functions in relationships, the community and at work. We know the approximately 25% of the individuals in behavioral health settings have experienced a brain injury. This percentage jumps to approximately 70% of incarcerated individuals and exceeds 80% in the homeless population. Many veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict have returned with undiagnosed multiple mTBI’s from battlefield explosions. This new technology opens up the possibility of timely and effective recognition of the problems caused by TBI and hopefully linking people with rehabilitation services.
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Taglines: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, post-concussion syndrome, cognitive deficits following TBI, brain injury rehabilitation, mental health issues and TBI, veterans with brain injuries
