The impact of multimodal cognitive rehabilitation on executive functions in older adults with traumatic brain injury

Telehealth delivery of group-format cognitive rehabilitation to older veterans with TBI: a mixed-methods pilot study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common among Veterans and may interact with aging, increasing risk for negative cognitive, emotional, and functional outcomes. However, no accessible (i.e., in-home) group interventions for TBI targeted to older adults exist. Goal Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation (GOALS) is a manualized, group cognitive rehabilitation training that improves executive function and emotional regulation among Veterans with TBI and healthy older adults. Our objectives were to adapt GOALS for delivery to older Veterans via in-home video telehealth (IVT) and evaluate feasibility and participant-rated acceptability of the telehealth GOALS intervention (TeleGOALS). Six Veterans 69+, with multiple TBIs completed the 10-session intervention in groups of 2. One participant withdrew, and another completed the remaining sessions alone (total n enrolled = 8). Required adaptations were noted; questionnaire responses were quantified; and feedback was analyzed and coded to identify themes. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to examine feasibility (i.e., recruitment and retention) and participant-rated acceptability. Minimal adaptations were required for IVT delivery. Key themes emerged: (a) the importance of telehealth logistics, (b) facilitators' roles in prioritizing interpersonal connection, and (c) telehealth's capability to create opportunities for community reintegration. Thematic saturation (the point at which feedback from respondents is consistent and no further adaptations are required) was achieved. Participants stated they would likely recommend TeleGOALS to other Veterans. Although further study with a larger, more diverse sample is required, the adapted TeleGOALS intervention appears highly feasible and acceptable for older Veterans with TBI able and willing to participate in a group-format IVT intervention.

Contextual Determinants of Health Disparities in Utilization of Community-Based Rehabilitation Services Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries With Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between contextual social determinants of health (SDoH) and receipt of first outpatient or home health (HH) rehabilitation visit after hospital discharge among older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Texas.

SETTING

Community following hospital discharge.

PARTICIPANTS

19 117 patients aged 66 and older hospitalized for a TBI from January 1, 2014, and discharged up to December 31, 2018, who returned home within 90 days from discharge.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using 100% Texas Medicare claims data.

MAIN MEASURES

Contextual-level SDoH (eg, neighborhood ethno-racial identity make-up, socioeconomic position, and residential context) from the 2022 American Community Survey (zip-code level) and the 2023 County Health Rankings; HH and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services (eg, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, and behavioral health [eg, psychology, neuropsychology, social work]). Fine-Gray competing risk models were conducted.

RESULTS

Patients living in areas with higher median household incomes (Hazard ratio, HR = 0.92; 95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97) and higher unemployment rate (HR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99) had decreased likelihood of having a HH visit upon return to community; those with higher uninsured rates (HR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70-0.87) and in rural areas (HR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76-0.92) had decreased likelihood of having an outpatient visit. In contrast, Food Environment Index (HR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.05-1.11) increased the likelihood of having a HH visit while a higher percentage with severe housing problems (HR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.22-1.46) increased the likelihood of an outpatient visit. When treating either outpatient or HH visits as a competing event, contextual-level SDoH was associated with a decreased likelihood of an outpatient visit but an increased likelihood of a HH visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities exist in access to rehabilitation following community discharge, based on contextual-level SDoH, indicating the need to improve access to rehabilitation services for persons with TBI living in communities with greater social needs.

Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a brain lesion caused by external or internal factors, resulting in cognitive, behavioral, physical, relational, and sensory sequelae, depending on the affected brain area and the severity of the injury. Within neuropsychological rehabilitation (NR), multiple methods have been developed that are aimed at restoring, compensating, and substituting deteriorated cognitive functions resulting from a TBI. This systematic review aimed to identify the state of the scientific literature regarding the efficacy of NR methods in individuals with a TBI. Methods: Articles were analyzed in the SCOPUS and PUBMED databases. Initially, 5347 studies were found. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 articles remained and were included in the data extraction process. Results: Of the seventeen included articles, eleven employed randomized or semi-randomized controlled trials, five were clinical studies, and one was a comparative study, in which the percentage of computerized NR methods was 58.82% in the experimental and clinical groups. In contrast, traditional methods constituted 35.3%, and the remaining 5.88% conducted holistic NR. Ninety percent of the methods employed in these investigations showed efficacy. Conclusions: While most of the evaluated NR methods demonstrated efficacy, the analysis of these findings should not be isolated from variables such as the etiology and phase of the TBI, the intervention duration, and the symptoms treated. Furthermore, the NR implementation must be adapted to the specific context of each patient.

Nonpharmacological interventions to improve the cognitive function among persons with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

PURPOSE

The systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) for improving cognitive function among persons with traumatic brain injury.

DESIGN

A systematic review.

METHODS

This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO and followed the PRISMA guideline. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library, JSTOR, and Taylor & Francis were systematically searched for relevant articles of peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2022. Two independent researchers conducted study selection, data extraction, and data quality assessment.

FINDINGS

Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria, numbering a total of 757 participants. Six groups of NPIs were effective in improving cognitive functioning among persons with traumatic brain injury, including multimodal cognitive training, technology innovation, memory training, executive function training, physical activity, and sensory stimulation programs. Pooled evidence revealed that NPIs had a large effect on memory (d = 0.80, p < 0.05 to d = 2.03, p < 0.000), processing speed (d = 1.58, p < 0.05), and cognitive behavior (d = 1.63, p < 0.001 to d = 8.91, p 0.003). There was a medium effect on executive function (d = 0.5, p < 0.01 to d = 0.62, p < 0.05), attention (d = 0.5, p < 0.01), and intelligence (d = 0.57 to d = 0.59, p = 0.000). For visuospatial function and language, there was a significant increase post-intervention.

CONCLUSION

Evidence from this systematic review indicates that NPIs, specifically the use of multimodal cognitive training and sensory stimulation programs, were effective in improving cognitive function outcomes among persons with traumatic brain injury, with medium to large effect sizes.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) can enhance cognitive function in individuals with traumatic brain injury. These findings can guide healthcare professionals in clinical settings and support the development of technology applications for cognitive rehabilitation using NPIs.

Sleep Disruptions in Hospitalized Adults Sustaining a Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Adults sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at risk of sleep disturbances during their recovery, including when such an injury requires hospitalization. However, the sleep-wake profile, and internal and external factors that may interfere with sleep initiation/maintenance in hospitalized TBI patients are poorly understood. This review aimed to: (1) identify/summarize the existing evidence regarding sleep and sleep measurements in TBI adults receiving around-the-clock care in a hospital or during inpatient rehabilitation, and (2) identify internal/external factors linked to poor sleep in this context.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Scoping Review Extension guidelines. A search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases.

RESULTS

Thirty relevant studies were identified. The most common sleep variables that were put forth in the studies to characterize sleep during hospitalization were nighttime sleep time (mean = 6.5 hours; range: 5.2-8.9 hours), wake after sleep onset (87.1 minutes; range: 30.4-180 minutes), and sleep efficiency (mean = 72.9%; range: 33%-96%) using mainly actigraphy, polysomnography, and questionnaires (eg, the sleep-wake disturbance item of the Delirium Rating Scale or the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Twenty-four studies (80%) suggested that hospitalized TBI patients do not get sufficient nighttime sleep, based on the general recommendations for adults (7-9 hours per night). Sleep disruptions during hospitalization were found to be associated to several internal factors including TBI severity, cognitive status, and analgesia intake. External and modifiable factors, such as noise, light, and patient care, were consistently associated with sleep disruptions in this context.

CONCLUSION

Although the literature on sleep disturbances in hospitalized TBI patients has been increasing in recent years, many gaps in knowledge remain, including phenotypes and risk factors. Identifying these factors could help clinicians better understand the multiple sources of TBI patients' sleep difficulties and intervene accordingly.

Implementing neuropsychological rehabilitation following severe traumatic brain injury in a low-to-middle income country: a case report

Introduction

TBI incidence and distribution are largely overrepresented in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), such as South Africa (SA), with substantial associated human and financial costs. However, access to rehabilitation for the public is severely limited and not standard practice in SA. Given this background, studies demonstrating the successful implementation of neuropsychological rehabilitation in a LMIC setting are important. Published studies of this nature are generally lacking in this context. Further, there is a need to evaluate interventions that can be implemented at a low cost. To this end, we report on a neuropsychological rehabilitation program for an individual with severe TBI in a LMIC context, aimed at improving his capacity for activities of daily living.

Method

A 33-year-old, South African male who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) partook in a neuropsychological intervention aimed at remediating functional deficits and enhancing independent functioning. The intervention utilised principles of Goal Management Training and external memory aids, with reliance on procedural memory and errorless learning, to target the participant's impairments in executive functioning and memory through the use of assistive technology-namely smart device applications.

Results

Data collected pre- and post-intervention on formal neuropsychological measures demonstrated no significant change in cognition. However, observational data and qualitative feedback from the participant's family indicated notable improvement in performance on everyday tasks with reduced number of errors and reduced need for external prompting whilst completing intervention tasks across sessions.

Discussion

In the context of severe TBI, neuropsychological rehabilitation can facilitate gains in independent functioning. This study provides support for the value of neurorehabilitation especially for interventions that can be rolled out at low cost and should serve as impetus for further such research in South Africa, where neuropsychological rehabilitation infrastructure and services are lacking.

Cognitive-communication difficulties due to traumatic brain injury sustained in adults 55 years and older: A survey of speech-language pathology professional practice in Australia

PURPOSE

Limited research informs management of cognitive-communication difficulties following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adulthood. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics and practice of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working with people who sustained TBI at ≥55 years and more specifically their management of cognitive-communication difficulties with this population. This included assessment and treatment practices, resource needs, barriers to practice, and impact to service delivery from COVID-19 restrictions.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey-based design with non-probability sampling of SLPs working in Australia with adults with TBI was utilised. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used for analysis of survey data.

RESULT

Fifty responses were eligible for inclusion. Participants predominantly worked in inpatient rehabilitation (48%), acute (40%), and community settings (36%). Service delivery to adults who sustained TBI at ≥55 years commonly included cognitive-communication management. Assessment and treatment trends are described. Most SLPs (74%) perceived barriers to cognitive-communication management, often relating to time and funding, that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic restrictions presented additional challenges.

CONCLUSION

Research relating to cognitive-communication difficulties following TBI in older adulthood is required to support evidence-based practice and inform services for older adults who sustain TBI.

The feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the multimodal, community-based LoveYourBrain Retreat program for people with traumatic brain injury and caregivers

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the LoveYourBrain Retreat program using a pre-post, retrospective, concurrent triangulation mixed methods study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 5-day, multimodal, residential Retreat intervention was designed to improve quality of life among traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors and caregivers through mindfulness, movement, nutrition, art, and community-building. Eligibility included being a TBI survivor (>2 years post-injury) or caregiver, 18+ years old, independently mobile, able to communicate verbally, and a first-time participant. Self-reported quantitative and qualitative data were collected via electronic surveys pre- and post-retreat, analyzed separately, then combined. Paired t-tests assessed mean differences in scores on Quality of Life After Brain Injury Overall scale (QOLIBRI-OS) and NIH TBI/Neuro-QOL Resilience, Cognition, Positive Affect/Wellbeing, and Emotional/Behavioral Dysregulation scales. We assessed feasibility using sample characteristics and program frequency and retention, and acceptability using quality ratings. Content analysis explored perceived benefits and improvements.

RESULTS

68 People-53 with TBI and 15 caregivers-participated in one of three LoveYourBrain Retreats. Significant improvements were found in QOLIBRI-OS (6.91, 95%CI 1.88-11.94), Resilience (2.14, 95%CI 0.50-3.78), Cognition (2.81, 95%CI 0.79-4.83), and Emotional/Behavioral Dysregulation (2.84, 95%CI 0.14-5.54) among TBI survivors (n = 41). Mean satisfaction was 9.6/10 (SD = 0.64). Content analysis revealed community connection, reframing TBI experience, self-regulation, and self-care themes.

CONCLUSIONS

The LoveYourBrain Retreat is feasible, acceptable, and may be effective complementary rehabilitation to improve QOL among TBI survivors.

Predictors of cognitive gains during inpatient rehabilitation for older adults with traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) among older adults is increasing and can affect cognition. To effectively meet the rehabilitation needs of older adults, a clearer picture is needed of patient-, clinical-, and facility-level characteristics that affect cognitive recovery during inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) stays.

OBJECTIVE

To identify patient, clinical, and facility factors associated with cognitive recovery among older adults with TBI who received IRF care.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis.

SETTING

Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation-participating IRFs in the United States.

PATIENTS

Patients were 65 to 99 years of age at IRF admission for TBI. Participants received IRF care between 2002 and 2018 (N = 137,583); 56.3% were male; 84.2% were white; mean age was 78.7 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Change in Functional Independence Measure Cognitive Score (FIM-Cognitive) from IRF admission to discharge, categorized as favorable (FIM-cognitive score gains ≥3 points) or poor (FIM-cognitive score gains <3 points) cognitive outcomes.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

RESULTS

Patients had greater odds of favorable cognitive recovery if they were female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.08), had higher motor functioning at IRF admission (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 1.03-1.04), longer length of stay (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06-1.07), or received care at a freestanding IRF (vs. hospital rehab unit) (aOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.52-1.61). Patients who were older (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99), Black (aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.75-0.83), Hispanic or Latino (aOR 0.97, 95% CI 0.91-1.02), or were part of another racial or ethnic group (aOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.90) (vs. White), had high-cost comorbid conditions (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.65-0.76), or who had higher cognitive functioning at IRF admission (aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.90-0.91) had lower odds of favorable cognitive recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient (age, sex, race, ethnicity), clinical (level of functioning at IRF admission, length of stay) and facility (e.g., freestanding IRF) factors contributed to the cognitive recoveries of older adults during IRF stays.