Age and Mechanism of Brain Injury

TBI is a major cause of death and disability across the world. It is the second most prevalent disability in the U.S; an estimated 13.5 million Americans or nearly 5% of the U.S. population are living with brain injury.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention collects and reports data to learn:

  • How many people are affected by brain injury?
  • Who is most at risk?
  • The leading ways a person may get a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  • Whether programs to prevent TBI are working.

Age groups at most risk:

  • Children aged 0-4 from falls and abuse.
  • Adolescents aged 15-19 from motor vehicles accidents.
  • Young adults aged 20‐24 from firearms.
  • Adults aged 65 and older from falls.

People age 75 years and older had the highest numbers and rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths, accounting for about 32% of TBI-related hospitalizations and 28% of TBI-related deaths.

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