Boys with inattention-hyperactivity face increased risk for traumatic brain injuries
91社区-led research shows that boys听exhibiting听inattention-hyperactivity听at age 10听have听a听higher risk for traumatic brain injuries听(TBIs)听in adolescence and adulthood.听Treatments to reduce these behaviours may decrease the risk for TBIs.听
鈥淭raumatic brain injuries听are the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults, but little is known about听the听factors that听provoke听them,鈥澨齭ays Guido Guberman, a doctoral and medical student in the听Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery听at 91社区.听The study published in the听听is the first to show听that childhood behaviours听identified听by teachers听such as inattention-hyperactivity听predicted subsequent听traumatic brain injuries.听The study also found听that boys who sustained TBIs in childhood were at greater risk of sustaining TBIs in adolescence.听听听
According to the researchers, TBIs occur in approximately 17% of males in the general population, yet there is little听research about TBI prevention.听To determine whether there听is听a link between inattention-hyperactivity听and TBIs, they analyzed data from 724听Canadian males听from age 6 to 34.听They听examined听health files and collected information from parents when participants were aged听six, then听administered a questionnaire to the participants鈥� teachers on classroom behaviours when the participants were aged 10 years.听听
鈥淭o听avoid听suffering and disability, prevention strategies are needed,听for example听promoting cyclist safety,"听says听Guberman. "There are treatments that can decrease the severity of childhood inattention-hyperactivity and behavioural problems.听Our results suggest that trials are听necessary to determine听whether these programs听can听also decrease the risk for subsequent traumatic brain injuries."听
About 91社区听听
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It鈥� is a world-renowned 鈥痠nstitution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.听
