Exploring the common causes of brain injury
Nearly 1 in 3 people will have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) at some point in their lifetime. Let's explore what a brain injury is, some of its common causes and relate some associated facts.
What is a brain injury?
Nearly 1 in 3 people will have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) at some point in their lifetime. The causes of an ABI can be as diverse as the injuries themselves; they can affect people of any age, gender, race, or ethnicity. The term brain injury or acquired brain injury (ABI) can be further divided into two main categories: Non-Traumatic Brain Injury (Non-TBI) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Non-TBI include:
- Stroke,
- Aneurysm,
- Anoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain),
- Infection (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis),
- Tumors,
- Degenerative diseases,
- Exposure to toxins,
TBI often refers to brain injuries caused by trauma or force to the head, including, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and falls. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is one of the major groups of ABI and is a principal cause of mortality and lifelong disability.
Brain injuries are a significant cause of disability worldwide. A brain injury can lead to cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioral impairments. These impairments can result in temporary or permanent changes in functioning and can range from mild to severe. They can have a profound impact on the individual and their family. Factors including mechanism of injury, area of the brain, area of the brain affected, underlying health conditions, and length of time before treatment can all affect prognosis.
Brain injury: Facts and figures
Of all types of injury, those to the brain are among the most likely to result in death or permanent disability worldwide. It’s also important to note that stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide.
Stories from SameYou brain injury survivors
Thousands of people have written to us to tell their story since Emilia told her story. The messages about needing more help is loud and clear. The stories we received were flooded with people either asking for help directly or their stories indicated a need for further recovery.
SameYou has put together a report which exposes the current gaps experienced during brain injury recovery as related by the thousands of survivors that shared their intimate brain injury stories.
Each week, we publish a survivor story on our website. By unsilencing brain injury survivors and revealing their stories, their wants and needs, we can highlight the gaping chasm in care and demand better.
About SameYou
Reports say 135 million people worldwide are living with brain injury. This is an underestimate of the scale of the problem due to the lack of focus on brain injury. Notably, 45% of stroke survivors feel abandoned once they have left the hospital. SameYou is a charity that recognizes the need for change, and aims to revolutionize recovery for young adults following brain injury. We work tirelessly to support those affected by brain injuries. SameYou focuses on rehabilitation. It seeks to help patients regain their independence, relearn skills, and cope with any lingering effects of their injury including the impact on their mental health. SameYou also aims to educate the public about brain injury, its causes, how it impacts survivors and their families and to develop innovative treatments that are beneficial to brain injury recovery. This is achieved through various awareness campaigns that we hold each year. Finally,
SameYou advocates for better brain injury care. The charity campaigns for more funding, better research, and improved policies related to brain injury.