Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia Patients With and Without a History of Traumatic Brain Injury

Vani Rao, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
Paul Rosenberg, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
Quincy Samus Miles, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
Deepa Patadia, Northeaster Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Kate Treiber, Utah State University
Melaine Bertrand, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
Maria Norton, Utah State University
Martin Steinberg, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
Constantine Lyketsos, John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore
JoAnn T. Tschanz, Utah State University

Abstract

The authors aim to determine if a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) assessed before dementia onset is associated with a higher risk of neuropsychiatric symptoms after dementia onset. A population-based incident series of people with dementia were assessed for TBI prior to onset of dementia and for neuropsychiatric symptoms after the onset, using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Participants with predementia TBI were more likely to exhibit disinhibition (12.7% versus 5.4%, OR=2.8, p=0.02), but not other neuropsychiatric symptoms. Traumatic brain injury may increase the risk of disinhibition in patients with dementia.