Longitudinal evaluation of ventricular volume changes associated with mild traumatic brain injury in military service members. (24th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davenport, Nicholas D.; Gullickson, James T.; Grey, Scott F.; Hirsch, Shawn; Sponheim, Scott R.
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 32:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 1244
• Page End: 1254
• Publication Date: 2018-08-24
• Subjects: Concussion -- mild brain injury -- military -- neurodegeneration -- MRI; Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2018.1494854
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Primary objective : To investigate differences in longitudinal trajectories of ventricle-brain ratio (VBR), a general measure of brain atrophy, between Veterans with and without history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Research design : Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to calculate VBR in 70 Veterans with a history of mTBI and 34 Veterans without such history at two time points approximately 3 and 8 years after a combat deployment. Main outcomes and results : Both groups demonstrated a quadratic relationship between VBR and age that is consistent with normal developmental trajectories. Veterans with history of mTBI had larger total brain volume, but no interaction between mTBI and age was observed for brain volume, ventricular volume, or VBR. Conclusions : In our longitudinal sample of deployed Veterans, mTBI was not associated with gross brain atrophy as reflected by abnormally high VBR or abnormal increases in VBR over time.