On April 18, 2018, Neurology published research co-authored by 2001 Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging Scholar Kristine Yaffe, M.D.
In “Mild TBI and risk of Parkinson disease A Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study,” the team’s research reveals that “among military veterans, mTBI is associated with 56% increased risk of PD, even after adjusting for demographics and medical/psychiatric comorbidities.”
In a related article in Science Daily, Dr. Yaffe states, “previous research has shown a strong link between moderate to severe traumatic brain injury and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease but the research on mild traumatic brain injury has not been conclusive. Our research looked at a very large population of U.S. veterans who had experienced either mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury in an effort to find an answer to whether a mild traumatic brain injury can put someone at risk."
The research was also picked up by Reuters Health, where she explains, “while the participants had all served in the active military, many if not most of the traumatic brain injuries had been acquired during civilian life. As such, we believe it has important implications for the general population.”
The original research published in Neurology is available by subscription only here, but related articles can be read on Science Daily, Reuters, and Health New Digest here, here, and here.
Kristine Yaffe, M.D., is a Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Epidemiology and the Roy and Marie Scola Endowed Chair Vice Chair of Research in Psychiatry at UCSF School of Medicine.
