Obesity Related To Injury Of A Key Brain Area
A recent animal study found that inflammation to the hypothalamus may disrupt the control of body weight. The hypothalamus is a brain structure deep near the center of the brain, and is primarily responsible for producing and releasing hormones. After a brain injury, certain proteins are released as a protective response to the injury. Although
TBI Act Reauthorization 2012 February 14, 2012
BIAA’s director of government affairs along with NASHIA’s lobbyist and staff representing the National Disability Rights Network had a successful meeting with Reps. Pascrell and Platts staff regarding the reauthorization of the TBI Act. The TBI Act will likely be introduced in the House of Representatives in March. BIAA will continue to work closely with
TBI Act Reauthorization February 10, 2012
On Tuesday, February 7, 2012, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on accessible technology. Chairman Harkin (D-IA) spoke about how America is at a critical juncture in technological development related to education. Technology can either be used in the classroom to keep all students, including students who have sustained
Brain Injury Awareness Day On March 21 2012
This year, brain injury awareness day on Capitol Hill will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. As in years past, there will be an awareness fair, briefing and reception. The full schedule for the day is as follows: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM - Brain Injury Awareness Fair, First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office
Health Care Reform Update February 7, 2012
This week, BIAA submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the essential health benefits bulletin. BIAA also submitted comments on the report Multidisciplinary Postacute Rehabilitation for Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury prepared for the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). A copy of BIAA’s comments on both documents
Fight for the CLASS Act continues: oppose effort in House to repeal this week!
Call your Representative Today! During the week of January 30, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act (H.R. 1173) a bill that would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. Calling on Congress to Avoid Repeal of the CLASS Act If
Force Of Impact Predicts Outcome In Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children can be difficult to diagnose, and it is even more difficult to predict an outcome. Traditionally, TBI is defined as mild, moderate, or severe by using certain indicators such as the Glasgow Coma Scale or loss of consciousness. Outcomes based on TBI severity can be unpredictable—mild TBI has been
The “Yes Bias” After Traumatic Brain Injury
Memory and attention problems are common after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, both memory and attention are complex, interrelated systems that can be broken into “pieces” of a process. Research has been mixed about specifically what piece of that process is most commonly affected by TBI. One of the problems of this research is
Post-Concussion Syndrome May Not Be An Accurate Measure Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is defined as a set of common symptoms that occur in the days or months after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These symptoms include fatigue, depression, headaches, dizziness, and cognitive problems. PCS has been a somewhat controversial topic because clinicians rely on the patient’s report of their symptoms, in absence of
Subjective Versus Objective Complaints After Traumatic Brain Injury
A self-report of symptoms after a traumatic brain injury is an important part of the assessment process. But, how does a clinician interpret inconsistencies between self-reported symptoms and the objective neuropsychological evaluation? One problem is that the severity of the brain injury can affect the way the patient talks about symptoms. For instance, a person
