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Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia: Mechanisms, Risk Stratification, and Clinical Management
Ali Al-Rubaie. Journal of Clinical Neurology, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the main mechanisms underlying health issues associated with functional and structural brain changes. While direct effects such as cognitive and physical impairments are well documented, recent research has linked TBI to neurodegenerative changes similar to dementia. TBI-related neurodegeneration includes progressive brain-tissue degeneration that leads to behavioral changes, cognitive decline, and dementia-like symptoms. The exact underlying mechanisms are complex, and include neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and disruption to protein homeostasis. Neuroinflammation is controlled by the activation of astrocytes and microglia and causes neuronal damage and the prolonged release of proinflammatory cytokines. Oxidative stress damages cell and impairs mitochondrial function, while the accumulation of misfolded proteins such as tau and β-amyloid mimics the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Excitotoxicity involves excessive neurotransmitter release that may lead to further injuries. Epidemiological studies show that the risk of dementia is increased after moderate-to-severe TBI and influenced by age and genetic factors. Current management strategies focus on symptom relief, and there is ongoing research aimed at improving the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the development of effective treatments.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Al-Rubaie, A. (2025). Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia: Mechanisms, Risk Stratification, and Clinical Management. Journal of Clinical Neurology. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2025.0079
Vancouver
Al-Rubaie A. Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia: Mechanisms, Risk Stratification, and Clinical Management. Journal of Clinical Neurology. 2025. doi:10.3988/jcn.2025.0079. PMID: 40635532.
BibTeX
@article{alrubaie2025-40635532,
author = {Al-Rubaie, Ali},
title = {{Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia: Mechanisms, Risk Stratification, and Clinical Management}},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3988/jcn.2025.0079},
pmid = {40635532},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2025.0079}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the main mechanisms underlying health issues associated with functional and structural brain changes.
Why it matters
This review describes how traumatic brain injury may lead to dementia-like neurodegeneration through mechanisms including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and protein buildup, and notes that risk is increased after moderate-to-severe injury. Current management focuses on symptom relief, and no treatment to prevent dementia after injury is established.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 36 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 38 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Clinical Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Neurology: journal h-index 75 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Ali Al-Rubaie holds only 6 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Swinburne University of Technology: institution h-index 509 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40635532) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 36 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 36 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 38 out of 100. |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2025.0079
- PubMed: 40635532
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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