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Aging with Brain Injuries

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Handbook of Rehabilitation in Older Adults

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Abstract

Brain injuries, including TBI and stroke, are the leading cause of death and disability in the elderly. The effects of aging process in brain injury survivors are not well understood. Recent advances in behavioral and imaging methodologies identify specific factors that influence recovery patterns. Factors, including injury mechanism, neuropathology, age of injury, premorbid functioning, health status, and post-injury rehabilitation, play a significant role in long-term recovery and overall functionality. This chapter begins with a discussion of aging-related changes in healthy adults in neural systems, cognition, and daily functionality, followed by the impact of brain injury on these three domains. Additionally, the chapter discusses emerging associations between brain injuries and dementia.

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Vas, A., Neville, M. (2018). Aging with Brain Injuries. In: Gatchel, R., Schultz, I., Ray, C. (eds) Handbook of Rehabilitation in Older Adults. Handbooks in Health, Work, and Disability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03916-5_11

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