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Resources Basic Information Introduction & Causes of Cognitive Disorders Introduction to Cognitive DisordersVarious Causes of Cognitive DisordersReversible and Irreversible Cognitive Disorders Dementia DementiaMedical Conditions that May Cause Dementia Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's DiseasePrevalence and Causes of Alzheimer's DiseaseCauses of Alzheimer's Disease ContinuedRisk Factors for Alzheimer's DiseaseSymptoms of Alzheimer's DiseaseWarning Signs of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's DiseaseDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Imaging Procedures and Psychological EvaluationDiagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease - Neuropsychological TestingTreatment of Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms associated with Alzheimer's DiseaseResearch and Prognosis on Alzheimer's Disease Other Cognitive Disorders Vascular Neurocognitive DisorderVascular Neurocognitive Disorder ContinuedLewy Body DementiaSymptoms of Lewy Body DementiaDiagnosis and Treatment of Lewy Body DementiaReversible Cognitive Disorder - Dementia Syndrome of Depression Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Another Medical ConditionReversible Cognitive Disorder - DeliriumPrevention of Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders Dementia Coping Skills & Behavior Management Coping Skills for Those With DementiaCoping Skills for Dementia CaregiversServices for Dementia CaregiversCommunication Tips for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia CaregiversBehavioral Management for Dementia Caregivers ContinuedTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic BehaviorsTips for Dealing with Specific Dementia Problematic Behaviors Continued Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Traumatic Brain InjuriesTraumatic Brain Injuries ContinuedTreatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conclusion and Resources Cognitive Disorders ConclusionCognitive Disorders Web ResourcesCognitive Disorders Book Resources More Information Dementia: What Gets Damaged; What Gets Saved Latest News Long-Term Outlook for Most With Serious Brain Injury Is Better Than ThoughtDrug Shows Promise in Easing Dementia-Linked PsychosisAHA News: Diabetes and Dementia Risk: Another Good Reason to Keep Blood Sugar in Check1 in 20 Cases of Dementia Occurs in People Under 65Could Menopausal Hormone Therapy Reduce Women's Odds for Dementia?Reading, Puzzles May Delay Alzheimer's by 5 Years: StudyTwo Major Health Systems Won't Administer Controversial New Alzheimer's DrugMost Marriages Survive a Spouse's Brain InjuryMedicare Mulls Coverage for Controversial Alzheimer's DrugFDA Head Asks for Investigation Into Alzheimer's Drug ApprovalNew Prescribing Instructions Tighten Use of Controversial Alzheimer's DrugMissing Teeth, Higher Odds for Dementia?AHA News: Smoking Harms the Brain, Raises Dementia Risk – But Not If You QuitHealthy Living Can Lower Your Odds for Alzheimer'sKeeping Same Nurse for All Home Health Care May Be Crucial for Dementia PatientsMost Cases of Dementia in U.S. Seniors Go Undiagnosed: StudyLilly to Seek FDA Approval for New 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Odds for Alzheimer'sDrug Used in Cancer Patients Might Help Treat Alzheimer's'Non-Drug' Approaches Can Fight Depression in People With DementiaSuicide Attempts Spike Soon After Dementia DiagnosisCould a New Drug Help Ease Alzheimer's?AHA News: Dementia May Be a Risk Factor for Infection But Not Death From COVID-19Your Eyes May Signal Your Risk for Stroke, DementiaEven 1 Concussion May Raise Your Odds for Dementia LaterAlzheimer's Patients Are Being Given Too Many MedsMany Blacks, Hispanics Believe They'll Get Worse Care If Dementia StrikesAlzheimer's May Strike Women and Men in Different WaysHistory of Mental Illness Tied to Earlier Onset of Alzheimer's DiseaseAHA News: Black, Hispanic Families Hit Hardest by DementiaWhy Some 'Super Ager' Folks Keep Their Minds Dementia-FreeDementia Seen in Younger Adults Shows Even More Brain Damage Than Alzheimer'sToo Little Sleep Could Raise Your Dementia RiskSpecialist Care for Alzheimer's Is Tough to Find for Poorer, Rural Americans Questions and Answers Problem of Forgetting ThingsHow Do I Handle My Mother's Decline?89 Year Old Mother Dementia vs DeliriumElderly ParentsVoices in his headold age or whatDementia and Depression Videos Overview of Dementia with Lewy Bodies Common Challenges: DrivingDiagnosis and Management of Vascular DementiaDifference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia Why Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease MattersLooking Beyond Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview of Other Major Forms of Neurodegenerative DiseaseNew Definition of Alzheimer’s Changes How Disease Is ResearchedLewy Body Dementia: Most Common Disorder You’ve Never Heard Of Living With Traumatic Brain Injury Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Seeing Alzheimer's in a New Way Inside Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's Screening Neurology: Testing for Alzheimer's Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sexually Inappropriate BehaviorsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Depression/ApathyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Agitation and AnxietyAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Aggressive Language/BehaviorAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Sleep DisturbancesAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Repetitive Phone CallsAlzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training: Home SafetyBest Practices & Emerging Therapies for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Recognizing the Early Signs of DementiaEffective Treatments and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: The Time is Now - Research on Aging Dementia – it affects us all Falls Prevention in People with DementiaCaregiver Training Part I: Introduction Caregiver Training Part II: HallucinationsCaregiver Training Part III: Refusal to BatheCaregiver Training Part IV: Refusal to Take MedicationCaregiver Training Part V: Repetitive BehaviorsCaregiver Training Part VI: Repetitive QuestionsCaregiver Training Part VII: SundowningCaregiver Training Part VIII: WanderingThe Benefits of Early Detection of Alzheimer's DiseaseA New Way To Look At Alzheimer'sThe Healing Power of MusicFalls Prevention in People with DementiaFalls Prevention in People with DementiaProtecting & Caring for Patients with DementiaDementia 101 in 101 Seconds Normal and Abnormal Aging and the BrainAlzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease Aggressive Behavior in People with DementiaDiagnosing Alzheimer’s Signs of Alzheimer’s Practical Tips for Travelling with a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease Links [1] Articles[3] Associations[5] Government[10] Information[2] Journals[1] Research[47] Videos Book Reviews Alive with Alzheimer'sAlzheimer'sDays With My FatherDecision Making, Personhood and DementiaDementiaDementia Caregivers Share Their StoriesHearing the Person With DementiaHow We Think About DementiaInside Assisted LivingMild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's DiseaseMom's OK, She Just ForgetsMy Book about Brains, Change and DementiaNothing about us, without us!Remembering HomeRights, Risk and Restraint-Free Care of Older PeopleSpeaking Our Minds: Revised 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The DSM-5 defines two types of neurocognitive disorders. A mild neurocognitive disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences a change in their cognition (thinking), but the change in their cognitive abilities is not severe enough to cause them significant impairment or distress in their daily functioning. These individuals can typically deal with these mild changes. A major neurocognitive disorder occurs when the change in cognition significantly affects the person's daily functioning and they need some form of assistance or intervention to function normally (or cannot function normally even if they have assistance).

The DSM-5 has diagnostic criteria for a mild or major neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury. The criteria include:

• Cognitive Problems: The person must have a diagnosis of a mild or moderate neurocognitive disorder.
• Evidence of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): There must be evidence that the person has experienced a head injury. In addition, the head injury must produce one or more of the following:
• Having experienced a loss of consciousness (there is no limit on the duration).
• Being confused or disoriented (difficulty relating the date, time, place, etc. where a person is).
• Neurological signs that include brain scan results, seizures, problems with vision, problems with paralysis, etc. that suggest a TBI.
• The experience of posttraumatic amnesia (memory loss following the head injury).
• Persistence: The neurocognitive disorder must occur right after the head injury or immediately after a person regains consciousness from a TBI. It must continue for significant length of time following the head injury (this is rather loosely defined).

Other diagnostic specifiers can also be included that further describe the actual type of injury, the actual effects of the TBI, and so forth. Most often people who receive a diagnosis of a mild neurocognitive disorder due to TBI are not considered to have dementia because of a TBI. Having a major neurocognitive disorder due to TBI would often qualify for a diagnosis of dementia because of a TBI, depending on the symptoms being shown.

The symptoms that happen because of a TBI can be quite variable depending on:

• the severity of the TBI
• the length of time a person was unconscious
• whether the person has had many TBI's
• the location of the TBI.

TBI symptoms typically are present very soon after the person has had the TBI. However, in some cases, many of the emotional factors associated with having a TBI may not occur until much later. In addition, people who suffer from CTE may not begin to experience significant issues for some time following their last concussion and these issues may progressively get worse.

Some of the early symptoms associated with having a TBI range from:

• Having headaches that can last for a short time, come and go, or in some cases, be constant.
• Mild problems with attention to major problems with paying attention.
• Problems with confusion which typically go away in mild to moderate head injuries, but may be long-lasting in moderate to severe head injuries.
• Problems with vision.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Dry mouth or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
• Nausea and even vomiting.
• Problems with sleep.

Longer-term issues can include thinking problems that can range from being mild to severe. Most often TBI's produce problems with attention and concentration as well as problems with memory. Other changes are also common including:

• problems with decision-making
• producing language
• understanding language
• visual problems
• controlling one's body movements
• many other problems that depend on the severity and location of the brain injury.

Longer-term issues can also include issues with mood. This can include people becoming apathetic (don't really care about things), suffering many bouts of depression, having issues with anxiety, and in some cases, becoming suicidal. In moderate to severe cases, people may display personality changes. This might include being very aggressive, impulsive, quick to anger, having problems controlling their emotions, etc. Again, the actual types of issues that any person will experience depend on the person's psychological history, the location and severity of the head injury, and the type of treatment they get following their head injury.

Approaches to treating people who suffer TBI's will be discussed in the next section.

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