The Long-Term Effects of an Untreated Head Injury (2024)

FAQs

The Long-Term Effects of an Untreated Head Injury? ›

Getting hit (or falling) hard enough in the head can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI). When left untreated, TBI can lead to negative, long-term physical effects such as an increased risk of Alzheimer's, immediate memory loss, trouble with verbal communication, and trouble reasoning.

A person with an untreated concussion may struggle with aspects of daily living, such as: Work Performance: Brain injuries can significantly impair focus, attention, and coordination. These impairments can negatively affect job performance, attendance, and productivity.

The brain affects how you think; how you feel; how you act. So a TBI can affect your physical functions, thinking abilities, behaviors, and more. The injury can range from mild to severe, and it may increase your risk for mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as sleeping problems.

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can result in prolonged or permanent changes in a person's state of consciousness, awareness or responsiveness. Different states of consciousness include: Coma. A person in a coma is unconscious, unaware of anything and unable to respond to any stimulus.

But generally, moderate to severe brain injuries are the ones that often get worse over time, especially with delayed medical treatment. Moreover, studies suggest that 50% of patients who suffer from a TBI will experience cognitive decline and premature mortality within 5 years from the initial trauma.

You may be at risk for CTE [chronic traumatic encephalopathy] later in life." CTE and related head injuries can lead to short-term memory problems and difficulty in making reasoned judgments and decisions.

During this time, people who had a TBI were four to six times as likely to get a dementia diagnosis as those without a TBI. The study also concluded that a concussion or other TBI can increase the risk of developing dementia even 30 years later.

Years later, you experience one or many symptoms: foggy thinking, memory loss, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, or personality changes.

The types of changes people have and how long they last depend on where their injury is, how severe it is, and other factors. People with a severe TBI are more likely to have behavior changes that last for a while. The good news is that behavior changes can get better as time passes.

Personality change may include poor motivation, and a tendency to be self-centred and less aware of the needs of others. Patients may be described as lazy and thoughtless. Some become disinhibited and rude. Agitation and aggression can be very difficult to manage.

How many years after head injury can symptoms occur? ›

According to the CDC, 5 years after injury, 30% of moderate to severe TBI survivors experience worsening symptoms. However, 22% of survivors had similar symptoms, while another 26% reported that their symptoms had improved.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI).

In DAI, the patient is usually in a coma for a prolonged period of time, with injury to many different parts of the brain.

Signs of a serious head injury. Seek immediate medical attention if, after a knock to the head, you notice any of these symptoms in either you or your child: unconsciousness, either briefly or for a longer period of time. difficulty staying awake or still being sleepy several hours after the injury.

For these reasons, it is important to monitor your condition, particularly in the 48 hours immediately following a head injury. Other symptoms to watch for during this period of monitoring include: Discharge of clear fluid or blood from the nose or ears. Signs of disorientation or memory loss.

The majority of patients with mild TBI recover completely in a week to three months. If you are older than 40, it may take a bit longer to return to normal. The symptoms often disappear without any special treatment.

Signs of a more serious brain injury will usually show up in the first 24 to 48 hours. Call 911 or go to the hospital right away if you have any of the following: You won't wake up or are very hard to wake up. You become more confused, restless, or agitated.