Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially among older individuals. Approximately 15.7% of U.S. adults aged 40 years or older have experienced a head injury with loss of consciousness, which amounts to approximately 23 million affected individuals. 

In this presentation, the current epidemiology of TBI will be presented. In addition, efforts focused on improving the characterization of lifetime history of TBI in ongoing prospective cohort studies in diverse populations will be presented. Leveraging data with over 25 years of follow-up, studies presented herein will quantify the population-level burden of TBI and the dose-dependent long-term consequences of TBI (including data on cognitive decline, dementia risk, and mortality, among other outcomes) in a comprehensive manner. Data will also be presented showing how epidemiological study design and biostatistical methods can provide insights into mechanisms underlying observed associations. The robust and dose-dependent associations of TBI with adverse outcomes underscore the importance of public health measures aimed at preventing head injuries and targeted clinical interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality after head injury.

Dr. Andrea Schneider is an Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Division of Neurocritical Care with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She received her M.D. in 2014 from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and received her Ph.D. in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2012. Dr. Schneider completed a neurology residency and neurocritical care fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2020. She is a neuroepidemiologist who has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications. 

Dr. Schneider is the Principal Investigator of a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke K23 grant and two Department of Defense grants. Her research program is centered on TBI epidemiology and the prevention of TBI-related sequelae, with a focus on the prevention of TBI-related mortality, neurodegeneration, and dementia.

This webinar will be captioned in real time. Individuals needing reasonable accommodations should email Prevention@nih.gov. Requests should be made at least 5 business days before the event. 

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