الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Aging is an inevitable and irreversible process that causes the deterioration of all levels of the body systems, organs, tissues and cells.
The elderly (>65 years) are medically complex and require geriatric specific prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
Disease and injury have long term consequences that have the capacity to affect older adults significantly more than younger individuals.
Old adults have the highest rates of chronic disease.
The leading causes of head injury in older adults are falls, motor vehicle accidents and assaults.
Males make up a greater proportion of older head injured patients.
Old age is a predictor for mortality following TBI independent of Glasgow Coma Scale score or severity of injury.
Mortality rates are higher for older adults compared to younger individuals (<65 years ) at all points along the time post injury.
Low Glasgow Coma Scale and severe injury severity is a positive predictor for mortality following TBI regardless of age.
The combination of chronic disease and brain injury in older adults contributes to poorer recovery and higher mortality rates.
The majority of studies report that there is no difference in mortality rates between old men and old women after TBI.
Old adults admitted to emergency department with a severe brain injury have a poorer prognosis with few being discharged with a good functional outcome.
Old adults admitted to emergency department with moderate brain injuries have varying prognoses ranging from full recovery to death .
There is no impact of aging on functional outcome in those sustaining mild brain injuries.
Age and Glasgow Coma Scale scores are independent. Positive predictors of poor functional outcome, and good recoveries decline sharply with age.
Older adults with better GCS than younger TBI patients still have poorer functional outcomes.
Despite the severity of injury ,further studies are needed as some studies showed older adults still have poor functional decline one year post-injury.
Cognitive impairment is observed among older TBI patients .
Both older age and severity of injury predict poorer cognitive outcome with older age.
Cognitive impairment pathologies such as dementia (unrelated to a TBI) and TBI related cognitive decline often exist as co-morbid conditions among older adults.
Dementia patients experience progressive, irreversible cognitive impairment; TBI patients experience cognitive impairment that can be ameliorated.
Individuals aging with a TBI have a greater lifetime risk for dementia.
Research indicates that older adults are at risk for emotional disorders following TBI including major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse or dependence.
Individuals under 65 years may report higher levels of anxiety ,substance abuse and depression following a TBI because they probably have not retired yet and are actively engaged in work and family responsibilities. These activities are likely to be affected immediately by changes in physical and cognitive status. Additionally, disabilities are not typically normal or endured by many individuals in this younger age bracket; therefore, these individuals might interpret these changes more negatively. On the other hand, physical limitations are much more common among older adults and less likely to be reported as burdensome. Furthermore, elderly individuals might have better coping skills as a result of greater life experience and are better able to manage the adjustments needed following such an injury. Depression often follows a sense of and acknowledgement of loss including future loss; older patients may have less of a sense of loss than younger patients because they have already lived much of their life.