Certain Categories of Men More Likely to Suffer Brain Injury

Males are much more likely to suffer a brain injury, than women are.  However, certain sections of men, like low-income males may be much more likely to suffer a brain injury than other men. New research suggests to that young men who have low incomes, and who have poor mental skills are at a much higher risk for brain injury.

The study was conducted in Sweden, and researchers analyzed data involving more than 300,000 young men.  These men had all been recruited for military service in that country between 1989 and 1994.  These men were tested for their mental skills, and were also evaluated over the next 19 years.

More than 4,700 of the men had suffered a mild brain injury, before they had undergone testing for their mental skills as part of the research.  Close to 800 has suffered at least 2 brain injuries during the study period.  The researchers found that the most common cause of traumatic brain injury were fall accidents, assaults and traffic accidents.

The researchers found that subjects who suffered a mild brain injury, had a mental ability that was about 5.6% lower.  Among the participants who had suffered two mild traumatic brain injuries, the mental disability was approximately 15% lower, compared to those who had not suffered a brain injury.

The researchers also found a number of other risk factors for traumatic brain injury including low income, low mental skills, and higher level of physical fitness.  These persons were also much more likely to have been admitted to a hospital for intoxication, and were also much more likely to have suffered a previous comparable brain injury.  They also had much lower education levels, and were also likely to be on early disability pension.