Unlocking the Secrets to Healthy Aging: Vital Tips for Longevity and Well-being

Longevity in older adults is threatened by traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which affect about 13% of this population, according to a study by UC San Francisco and the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Falls from a height are the most common cause of these injuries.

Longevity Risks Revealed: How Gender, Race, and Health Influence Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults

In a study of 9,200 Medicare members, average age 75, researchers found that factors like being female, white, healthier, and wealthier linked to a higher risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI), unlike findings from studies on younger populations.

On May 31, 2024, the paper is published in JAMA Network Open.

The researchers monitored TBI Medicare claims of individuals participated in the Health and Retirement Study, a long-term study of a representative sample of older Americans, under the direction of first author Erica Kornblith, PhD, of the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and the San Francisco VA Health Care System.

Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be effectively treated, it poses a threat to longevity by increasing the risk of serious illnesses like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, cardiovascular issues, and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Senior author Raquel Gardner, MD, previously of the UCSF Department of Neurology and the San Francisco VA Health Care System, remarked, “The number of people 65 and older with TBI is shockingly high.” “We need evidence-based guidelines to inform post-discharge care of this very large Medicare population, and more research on post-TBI dementia prevention and repeat injury prevention.”

Researchers aimed to identify characteristics that made some patients more vulnerable than others during an 18-year follow-up.

Males, non-White people, and people with lower socioeconomic level had higher rates of TBI diagnosis, according to earlier research on the condition. Nonetheless, the 1,148 participants with TBI in the current study showed an overrepresentation of white people and females. Although 84% of White people and 64% of female participants in the HRS were TBI survivors, respectively. Furthermore, 22% of TBI patients belonged to the lowest wealth quartile, whereas 31% of them were in the highest.

Longevity and TBI: Understanding the Risks, Underreporting, and Safety Measures for Older Adults

Seniors who are in better health may be more vulnerable to some risks.

At enrollment, participants later diagnosed with TBI were less likely to have lung illness or struggle with daily activities. They were also more likely to be cognitively normal.

Kornblith from UCSF Weill Institute suggests healthier, wealthier, more active adults might engage in riskier activities for TBI.

She said older adults often get TBIs from falls, but wheelchair or bed bound individuals have fewer injury risks. “It’s also possible that participants with cognitive impairment are more limited in their activity and have less opportunity to fall.”

Longevity in older adults could be at greater risk due to underreported traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A UC San Francisco study highlights that TBI data might not reflect the true incidence, as many cases go untreated. In 2007, a survey showed 42% of TBI patients didn’t seek care, risking their long-term health.

Addressing TBI Risks in Older Adults and the Importance of Safe Physical Activity

Kornblith stated older adults and lower-resourced individuals, including those facing microaggressions, often avoid seeking care after TBIs. “It’s possible that our data did not capture the true burden of TBI in this population.”

The study’s results may cause concern, especially since experts advise physical activity to prevent or delay dementia onset.

Gardner from Sheba Medical Center says the evidence strongly supports physical activities’ neuroprotective benefits. But it’s imperative to take action to maximize safety and reduce falls. These metrics must adapt if a person develops cognitive or physical impairments, or both, throughout the course of their life.”