Optimising Physical and Cognitive Health After Traumatic Brain Injury
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Original Editor - User:Ahmad Rifai Sarraj
Top Contributors - Kim Jackson, Ahmad Rifai Sarraj, Naomi O'Reilly and Rachael Lowe
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Cognitive difficulties are very common in individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) et can be a substantial sources of morbidity for them but also a major problem for their caregivers and their society (1). Domains of cognitive impairment can include attention, processing speed, episodic memory, and executive function (2).
Attention disorders may affect concentration, necessary for planning, organization and synchronization of complex actions (3). Information processing speed is a slowness of the ability of the brain and the nervous system to process and conduct information. Although, Information processing speed usually tends to slow with age (4), it is frequently and remarkably impaired after TBI (5).
Episodic Memory was defined by Tulving (1983, 2002) as a declarative memory that contains information specific to the time and place of acquisition, which is concerned with knowledge not tied to its context of acquisition (6). A recent meta-analysis conducted by Vakil et al. in 2019 concluded and confirmed the conclusions of Vakil (2005) ““The profile of the memory deficit in patients with TBI resembles that of patients with frontal injury rather than that of patients with amnesia.” (p. 1011)(7). The authors of this meta-analysis recommended that following TBI, it would be efficient to focus on remediation of executive functions, as well as directly on memory processes, to ameliorate memory functioning (8).
Finally, executive function can be considered as the most critical domain for goal-directed and complex behaviour (9). Planning, novel problem solving, monitoring, inhibition, initiation, updating, flexibility, set shifting, self-regulation and organization, can reflect the integrity or not of the executive function and abilities (10).
Physiotherapists and rehabilitation team members must evaluate and optimize cognitive health and behaviour in individuals after TBI. Evidence about the effectiveness of rehabilitation in reducing the impact of brain injury related cognitive impairments, is still growing and consolidating. Results of studies are largely affected by the complexity and the heterogeneity of brain injuries.
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