Brain Health: Baselining, Diagnosis, and Recovery From Traumatic Brain Injuries of Varying Severity

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have risen to the top of the national consciousness. Warfighters returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with a high rate of TBI and mTBI, with over 450,000 diagnosed TBIs or mTBIs from 2000 to 2023.  Athletic leagues at all levels have implemented stricter policies for screening and returning athletes to play. Research into the causes of brain injury, diagnosis, recovery, and long-term effects has increased exponentially in the last decade. This includes recent research into the effects of multiple mTBIs over the course of time vs. focusing on a single traumatic event. This state-of-the-art report explores recent research and development on TBI and mTBI, focusing on computerized baselining, diagnosis, and cognitive functions tests. Presented are results of longitudinal studies into the impact of multiple low-level blast injuries over the course of a servicemember’s career.