A Perelman School of Medicine study published on Mar. 9 which links head injuries to a greater risk for dementia.
Credit: Max MesterA study from the Perelman School of Medicine found that a single head injury could lead to the development of dementia later in life.
The study used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, which sought to explore associations between head injuries and dementia in a diverse United States population over a 25-year period. The researchers found that increased head injuries are correlated with a greater risk for dementia. The study’s findings were published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association on March 9, Penn Today reported.
The study found the strongest associations between head injuries and the development of dementia among female participants and white participants.
Andrea Schneider, an assistant professor of neurology, told Penn Medicine News that there is a need for further research to determine why associations vary by sex and race, as well as how head injury-related dementia can be prevented.
Head injuries in the United States are not uncommon, particularly among athletes.
Penn has previously taken steps to prevent head injuries, including introducing a new helmet shell to protect football players in 2018. Each shell contains an extra pound of protective material that increases force absorption during collisions and decelerates them to reduce the consequences of an impact on the player.
"Head injury is a significant risk factor for dementia, but it’s one that can be prevented," Schneider told Penn Medicine News.
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