Commentary
Video
Accounting for Hormonal Factors in Traumatic Brain Injury Care for Women: Christine Greiss, DO
The medical director for the Center for Brain injuries at Hackensack Meridian Health provided recommendations for clinicians to consider in the rehabilitation of women with TBI. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 6 minutes
“It's also important to treat neuropathic pain early in women because they have more of a tendency to develop post traumatic headache, post traumatic migraine. For instance, we may think that their migraine are specifically because of the post-menopausal state when in fact it could be a combination of the post-menopausal state as well as the TBI.”
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents ongoing challenges in both diagnosis and treatment across different patient populations. Prior research suggests that women with TBI may experience differences in outcomes because of a range of anatomical, hormonal, social, and cultural factors. A study published in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation aimed to expand on this current knowledge and offer recommendations for developing more individualized treatment and rehabilitation strategies for this group.1,2
Conducted by Christine Greiss, DO, and colleagues, the study reported that factors such as hormonal fluctuations, menstrual cycles, and reproductive history may influence mood, cognitive function, and the course of recovery in women with TBI. It also noted that financial and psychosocial stressors could play a role in shaping rehabilitation outcomes. In addition, returning to work or participating in community activities may present unique challenges that could benefit from targeted support. Thus, the authors recommended that rehabilitation plans consider these variables to help inform care strategies.
Greiss, medical director for the Center for Brain injuries and for the Concussion Program at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute of Hackensack Meridian Health, recently sat down with NeurologyLive® to further discuss how hormonal fluctuations can significantly influence symptoms, recovery, and safety in women with TBI. In the discussion, she highlighted the need for early screening, individualized rehabilitation strategies, and close collaboration with OB/GYN providers to manage hormonal shifts. Greiss also pointed to the importance of addressing neuropathic pain, nutritional health, and overall wellness as part of a comprehensive approach to improve long-term outcomes in this patient population.
