Last update: June 25, 2025

Many older adults chalk up lapses in memory as a side effect of aging. But if you’re also experiencing headaches, trouble concentrating, and difficulty thinking clearly, then something more serious may be to blame: a traumatic brain injury.

Brain injuries are more common than most people realize, and left unchecked, they can wreak serious havoc in your life. Fortunately, the latest scientific advancements, such as a specific hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) protocol, show promise in helping treat traumatic brain injuries.

According to the Brain Injury Association, more than 2.8 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year, and TBI-related deaths are highest among older adults. Since symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can sometimes take years to manifest, many people don’t even realize that they have one until problems show up later in life.

That’s right: a fall or car accident you had in the 1990s could be the cause of your headaches and brain fog today.

TBIs can cause a variety of cognitive problems and can even lead to permanent disabilities if left unchecked. You don’t even need to directly hit your head to obtain one, either. But the good news is that with proper detection, traumatic brain injuries can be treated, including at centers such as Aviv Clinics. Here’s more about TBIs and how to determine if you may have one.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury and Why Are They Often Undiagnosed?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a form of brain injury that occurs when an external trauma is inflicted upon the brain. This trauma can impair your brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of your body, and the effects can differ depending on the part of your brain that was injured. Damage can range from mild to severe, and there is not always a loss of consciousness.

The most common form of a mild TBI is a concussion, which is caused by a violent shaking or rattling of the brain. Common causes for TBIs include:

• Sports injuries
• Falling off a bike or horse
• Military injuries or blast injuries
• Being assaulted or struck
• Being in a motor vehicle accident
• Falling and hitting your head

Any kind of scenario involving your brain hitting your skull can cause a TBI, such as whiplash from a car accident. Although the potential for sustaining damage is greater if you are knocked unconscious, you don’t have to lose consciousness to experience negative effects. Even mild brain injuries can cause chronic symptoms.

Common Symptoms of a Past Brain Injury

What are the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury? Just like the severity of a TBI can vary, so too can the severity of the symptoms you experience.

Signs of a concussion or mild TBI include:

• Headaches and dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Confusion or memory loss
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Mood changes like depression or irritability

Although many people feel the effects of a brain injury immediately, symptoms can show up at any time, even years later.

This delay means that many people never make the connection between hitting their head and cognitive problems experienced later in life.

In some cases, a TBI may never be properly diagnosed because the person who sustained it never lost consciousness or never visited a doctor. These people may suffer needlessly because they never realize they sustained a TBI in the first place.

Chronic TBI symptoms can be devastating and can lead to sensory problems like blurred vision, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or even difficulty understanding language and communicating properly (aphasia). And because TBIs and dementia can have similar symptoms, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with so that you can receive the proper treatment.

How to Detect a Brain Injury Even Years After it Happens

Brain injuries can cause two distinct types of damage: structural and metabolic. Structural damage is caused by physical damage to the brain, such as bruising or bleeding. Metabolic damage affects the way the brain cells themselves function.

A CT scan or MRI is the first step to detecting obvious structural damage in the brain. But there can be more subtle damage to your brain that these scans might miss, especially if your injury is years old. This is where more advanced techniques come into play.

Functional MRIs or SPECT scans can detect metabolic damage in the brain tissue. These scans can reveal improperly functioning brain cells even years after an injury. From there, your healthcare provider can move forward with treatment options.

 

 

Treating Undiagnosed Brain Injuries in Older Adults

One of the most promising treatments for brain injuries involves a specific protocol of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). During HBOT treatment, patients breathe oxygen-enriched air in a special high-pressure chamber. Evidence suggests that one specific hyperbaric protocol, researched and tested for years at the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, offers relief from the cognitive symptoms of a TBI. This protocol is available as part of a specialized Aviv Medical Program at Aviv Clinics in central Florida.

In peer-reviewed, published studies, this HBOT protocol has improved neuroplasticity and led to the improvement of chronic impairments in patients with mild TBIs. These improvements were observed even in patients who had sustained a brain injury years earlier.

The studies also indicate that the HBOT protocol induces angiogenesis in the brain. Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels form from existing ones. These structural changes in the brain can produce improvements in thinking clarity, cognitive performance and overall quality of life.

 

Why There’s Hope Even if Your TBI Occurred Years Ago

While the name may sound scary, traumatic brain injuries are both detectable and treatable, even years after they occur. With proper care, you may see improvements in memory, cognitive function and overall quality of life.

For more information about Aviv Clinics’ personalized program and unique hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocol, or to schedule an in-person consultation, contact us today.