Heads Up! Understanding Brain Injury and How to Prevent It

Brain injuries can happen to anyone, at any moment. They may result from a fall, motor vehicle accident, stroke or even drug poisoning – and the impacts can range from mild to severe. For some, brain injury can be life-altering, affecting the way a person thinks, feels, moves or acts.

Understanding brain injuries, their causes, and the challenges faced by survivors and those who support them is key to prevention and improved care.

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Types of Brain Injury

Over 1.5 million people in Canada are living with a brain injury. Acquired brain injury refers to any brain damage that occurs after birth and is not hereditary, degenerative or caused by birth trauma.

Acquired brain injuries include both traumatic and non-traumatic injuries:

Traumatic brain injury: Traumatic brain injuries are caused by external forces, such as blows to the head, falls or accidents, and include conditions like concussions, contusions, and penetrating injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can result in temporary injury or more serious, long-term damage. Common causes include:

• Falls: Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury overall, particularly in older adults and children.

• Vehicle-related collisions: Collisions involving cars, motorcycles or bicycles, and pedestrians involved in such accidents, are a common cause of traumatic brain injury.

• Violence: Gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse and other assaults are common causes.

• Sports injuries: Traumatic brain injuries may be caused by injuries from a number of sports, such as soccer, boxing, hockey and other high-impact or extreme sports.

Non-traumatic brain injury: Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by something that happens inside the body, like a lack of oxygen, exposure to substances that damage the brain, or pressure from a tumour. Common causes include:

• Aneurysm

• Brain tumour

• Infections, like meningitis

• Hypoxia (oxygen deficiency)

• Opioid poisoning

• Stroke

The impacts of brain injury can vary widely depending on the type and severity of the damage involved. Seeking prompt medical care after a brain injury is crucial for minimizing long-term damage and improving recovery outcomes.

Effects of Brain Injury

Brain injury can affect every aspect of a person’s life – from memory, decision making and emotional wellbeing to physical functioning and social relationships – and yet, may remain invisible to those around them. Because brain injury differs from person to person and recovery depends on many factors it can be difficult to predict the full range of long-term impacts.

The effects of brain injury can be broken down into the following categories:

Behavioural changes: The way a person acts or makes decisions can change after a brain injury. Behavioural changes may include engaging in risky or impulsive behaviours, including episodes of aggression, having difficulty with social and work relationships, and isolation.

Cognitive changes: There may be changes in the way a person learns, processes information, forms memories and makes decisions following a brain injury. These changes can lead to challenges with communication, concentration, reading or writing, making decisions and remembering things.

Emotional changes: Following a brain injury, a person may experience changes to their mood control or emotional regulation. They may experience emotions that seem out of character, such as depression, anxiety or anger. These changes can be confusing and distressing for both the person with the injury and those around them. As with all aspects of recovery, it may take time to learn how emotions are affected and how to manage them.

Physical changes: The physical effects of brain injury can vary depending on the severity and location of the damage and may be short-term or long-lasting. Common effects include: chronic pain, balance problems, fatigue or difficulty sleeping, headaches, vision or hearing loss, impaired motor control or even paralysis.

Recovery is often a long and unpredictable journey, requiring medical care, rehabilitation and a strong support system. While progress can be slow, many people are able to regain important skills and improve their quality of life over time.

Prevention

While not all brain injuries are avoidable – especially those caused by unforeseen medical conditions – most traumatic brain injuries are preventable.

Brain injury prevention involves taking proactive steps to stay safe during everyday activities and making lifestyle choices to support brain health. Key strategies include wearing seatbelts, using helmets for sports and recreation, avoiding alcohol and drug use before and while driving, and making homes safer for children and older adults.

The following practices can help reduce the risk of brain injury:

• Always wear a helmet when biking, skateboarding, skiing, riding a motorcycle or playing contact sports.

• Always wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle.

• Never drive or operate heavy machinery under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Use car seats properly, install safety gates and supervise play to keep children safe.

• Take precautions to prevent falls, such as installing grab bars or using non-slip mats.

• Use personal protective equipment, such as hard hats and follow safety protocols while on the job site.

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The brain plays a central role in controlling everything the body does, from memory and movement to unconscious functions like breathing and heartbeat. Brain injury can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life and independence. Even mild injury can lead to long-term physical, cognitive and emotional challenges, and severe brain injuries can result in permanent disability or even death.

Taking precautions to prevent brain injury and protect our brain health is key.