Factors influencing recovery from mild traumatic brain injury

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Leslie W. Johnson (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Kristine Lundgren

Abstract: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an injury to the brain that may result in immediate and chronic changes in cognition, language, emotion, or social interactions. The current means of assessing brain dysfunction following mTBI do not appear to accurately capture how the brain will responds to this type injury; therefore, there has been a limited ability to determine accurate prognosis from mTBI. The purpose of this study was to determine if data gathered in the initial stages of injury following mTBI could predict recovery and if so, which factors were most predictive. Participants admitted to the hospital with mTBI were evaluated within 48 hours after injury and again at approximately one month after injury. Regression analysis was used to determine if initial GCS score, initial head CT results, cognitive performance on ImPACT testing, or APOE genotype were most effective in predicting 1-month functional outcome after mTBI. Additionally, independent t-test procedures were conducted to determine whether cognitive recovery would vary across APOEe4 carriers as compared to participants without an APOEe4 allele. Results showed that none of the study variables significantly predicted one month GOS-E scores or DRS scores, however, cognitive differences were identified when APOE groups were compared. Participants who were noncarriers of an APOEe4 allele had significantly slower reaction times compared to APOEe4 carriers. Participants who were homozygous APOEe4 carriers had significantly lower instances of impulsivity than participants with other genotype combinations.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2014
Keywords
APOEZ, Concussion, ImPACT, TBI outcome, Traumatic Brain Injury
Subjects
Brain $x Wounds and injuries $x Research
Brain $x Wounds and injuries $x Patients $x Rehabilitation
Brain damage $x Patients $x Rehabilitation

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