The Effect of Head Injury on Neurologic and Cognitive Health Throughout the Life Course

Abstract

Recent studies touting the potential long term negative effects of traumatic brain injuries have pushed these injuries in the forefront of public health concern. There is particular concern of whether or not there is a time window where these injuries are more dangerous. Using robust methods, our research suggests that early life head injuries tend to have worse effects on a latent outcome like the development of Parkinson’s disease, as well as on a relatively short term outcome like cognitive function. For both of these outcomes this dissertation evaluated how the timing of head injuries in conjunction with disease onset or cognitive measurement may impact results. But after considering these time effects, a younger age at first head injury was still associated with adverse neurological effects. It is hypothesized that a head injury during key developmental time periods may actually serve to disrupt developmental processes. This disruption in these processes can potentially have both long term and permanent negative effects on brain function.