HEALTH COACH - Abuse changes the brain of women - but exactly how we do not know - New Brunswick

HEALTH COACH -

Between 30 and 80 percent of women who survive spousal abuse may have traumatic brain injury - but there is almost no research on how such an injury specifically affects women, according to Angela Colantonio , Which helps lead an international working group on girls and women with acquired brain injury.


"This is a very neglected area," said Colantonio, who is also director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto.



Angela Colantonio, University of Toronto scientist, studies the effects of acquired brain injury in girls and women (Submitted by Angela Colantio) </p><br /></div><br /><p> "We are just beginning to investigate how the bodies of women are different in terms of brain damage, and what the implications for care are," she said. </p><br /><p> "An injury that is specifically overlooked is the injury of women in a context of domestic violence." </p><br /><h2> Repeated shots </h2><br /><p> When women are abused, Colantonio said: "Up to 92 percent of the blows are to the head", which means that women suffer repeated injuries that are associated with a large constellation of 39 Long-term effects. </p><br /><p> Research involving more than 100 women aged five to twelve after an injury revealed that more than half of the disturbances experienced in their menstrual cycles, had more difficulty during the postpartum period, 39, had regular Pap smears and reported lower mental health than a control group. </p><br /><p> But many women who have experienced spousal abuse do not even know that something could happen to their brains, Colantonio said. </p><br /><p> "Many of the woman found it interesting that some of the symptoms they experience could be related to blows to the head," she said. "That was a news for them that they could actually get help." </p><br /><p> Front-line workers with women who have been abused are still unaware of the long-term effects that spousal abuse can have on the brain, she said. </p><br /><p> "Most front-line workers have not prepared to deal with the issue of brain damage," Colantonio said. "Most of them have not received specific training in brain damage, and there is evidence that they underestimate the level of brain damage in this population." </p><br /><h2> Often not diagnosed </h2><br /><p> Women are often not diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, in many cases, because their symptoms mimic those of post-traumatic trauma. </p><br /><p> "There are significant differences in neuro-cognitive problems around memory that could be overlooked," she said. "They could be addressed by more specific services to brain injuries." </p><br /><p> More research is needed on the prevalence of such injuries, be it a useful or harmful diagnosis, and longer term consequences such as the severity of brain lesions may accelerate the progression of other conditions, Including dementia. </p><br /><div class=
brain scan "width =" 100% "/> <p class= Brain damage has been linked to irregular menstrual cycles, poor mental health and other adverse health effects in women.



One recommendation, Colantonio said, "is to identify allies and foster a network of advocates and people to develop a national plan to address them."


In addition to a kit to provide front line workers more information, Colantonio would like to see a large-scale study similar to those conducted on football and hockey players.


Part of the problem, she said, is that men tend to be the focus of study.


"There is unequal research for girls and women," she said. "There is almost nothing specifically about how women age with brain injuries, parents, or emotional problems specific to girls and women.


"We want to look at what the effects of these repeated blows to the head and what we can do about it"


Julia Wright

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