A recent study conducted by UC San Francisco and the San Francisco VA Health Care System has revealed that traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects approximately 13% of older Americans. This study, published in JAMA Network Open on May 31, 2024, followed around 9,200 Medicare enrollees with an average age of 75.

Contrary to findings in younger populations, the research showed that older adults who are female, white, healthier, and wealthier are at a higher risk of experiencing TBI. Falls from ground level were identified as the primary cause of these injuries.

The study was led by Erica Kornblith, PhD, from the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and the San Francisco VA Health Care System. These findings shed light on the demographics and risk factors associated with TBI in the elderly population.