Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2621165
Álvaro Aliaga, Mattia I Gerin, Hector Ureta, Matías Romero, Christian Salas
{"title":"Return to work after acquired brain injury: the influence of executive dysfunction profiles.","authors":"Álvaro Aliaga, Mattia I Gerin, Hector Ureta, Matías Romero, Christian Salas","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621165","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Executive dysfunction (ED) following acquired brain injury (ABI) is a well-established predictor of poor functional abilities and employment outcomes. However, there has been a lack of research focusing on the distinct contributions of different ED profiles. This study aimed to determine whether different ED profiles predict difficulties in returning to work for individuals who have suffered an ABI. Methods: Sixty-five working-age individuals who experienced an ABI participated in this study. The FrSBe and the ADLQ-T self-report scales were utilized to assess ED profiles and functional abilities, respectively. These measures were compared between individuals who did and did not return to their jobs. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the contribution of each ED profile and its predictive capacity for return to work.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall measures of ED reliably predicted challenges in performing daily activities and returning to work. Additionally, the predictive relationship between ED profiles and return to work was partially mediated by difficulties in daily activities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Various ED profiles (executive cognition, apathy, and disinhibition) contribute predictively to the ability to return to work. These findings suggest that ED profiles offer valuable insights for better characterizing the challenges individuals face in returning to their jobs following an ABI.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"405-416"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146103977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2621162
W Jubinville, C Bottari, R Ducharme, V Wagner, G Thibault, C Dugas, M-E Lamontagne, L Roy
{"title":"\"Overnight, everything changed\": life courses and turning points toward homelessness among people with acquired brain injury.","authors":"W Jubinville, C Bottari, R Ducharme, V Wagner, G Thibault, C Dugas, M-E Lamontagne, L Roy","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621162","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The prevalence of acquired brain injury (ABI) is disproportionately high among people experiencing homelessness. Most people in this situation experienced their first ABI before their first experience of homelessness. However, little is known about their trajectories. This study aimed to identify key moments and turning points into homelessness among people with a history of both ABI and homelessness.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A qualitative descriptive study was conducted, involving 26 semi-structured interviews using the life history mapping method with individuals who had experienced both homelessness and ABI. Data were analyzed using Paillé and Mucchielli's thematic analysis method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants reported an average of 4.7 ABIs, with the majority (77%) having sustained a first ABI before the age of 18. Five themes emerged from the analysis: 1) homelessness as a series of losses 2) the cross-cutting effects of violence; 3) foregrounding ABI as a turning point; 4) foregrounding substance use as a turning point; and 5) relations and occupations as counterweights to losses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights the turning points on the path to homelessness for people with ABI. It provides insight into their life trajectories and supports the development of homelessness prevention interventions specific to the needs of this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"376-391"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2619848
Alexia Barbis
{"title":"How do occupational therapists assess work readiness in individuals with acquired brain injury? A qualitative study in the South African context.","authors":"Alexia Barbis","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2619848","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2619848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore how South African occupational therapists (OTs) assess work readiness (WR) in clients with acquired brain injury (ABI), identify contextual challenges, and propose improvements.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A qualitative descriptive study using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with seven OTs experienced in vocational rehabilitation with individuals with ABI. Purposive and snowball sampling was used, and data was manually coded using NVivo 14.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thematic analysis, informed by the study objectives, identified three main themes: 1) how OTs assess WR 2) contextual influences on WR evaluation, and 3) recommendations for improving WR evaluation in South Africa. OTs use a multifaceted approach when assessing WR, incorporating a variety of assessments to evaluate physical, cognitive, and psychosocial skills, while collaborating with multiple stakeholders. Systemic challenges influence WR, such as unemployment, socioeconomic status, stigma, disparities between the private and public health sectors, lack of knowledge and implementation of labor policies, and the lack of contextually appropriate standardized tests.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings suggest that South African OTs evaluate WR comparably to international practices, yet face distinctive systemic barriers that are not typically present in high-income settings. This highlights the need for a contextually appropriate guideline to enhance WR evaluations in individuals with ABI.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"365-375"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146084082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Driving behavior in simulator and on-road assessments in brain injury and stroke: a scoping review.","authors":"Junpei Kubota, Anjali Tiwari, Takao Kaneko, Neha Lodha, Tasuku Sotokawa","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617467","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617467","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Driving requires the coordination of complex cognitive and motor abilities that are often impaired after brain injury or stroke. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the driving behaviors observed in individuals with brain injury through simulator-based and on-road driving assessments using Michon's hierarchical framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the PRISMA extension for Scoping reviews, we systematically searched five databases in July 2024. The eligible studies included adults with brain injuries assessed using either simulators or on-road evaluations. Driving behaviors were categorized as operational, tactical, or strategic.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Individuals with brain injury who failed the driving assessments (i.e. simulator or on-road) exhibited more frequent tactical-level errors, including lane deviations, and inadequate visual scanning than those with brain injury who passed. Simulator assessments are often used in studies comparing individuals with brain injury with healthy controls, whereas on-road assessments are more commonly used in studies assessing pass/fail outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Tactical-level errors, such as those involving decision-making and maneuvering in response to traffic, were consistently observed in individuals with brain injury. Assessment tools should prioritize the evaluation of operational and tactical abilities while expanding their capacity to capture strategic-level performance, which remains underassessed.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"321-356"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146028215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2634929
Richard P G Morris, Blanca de Dios Perez, Shirley Thomas, Neil Coulson, Kathryn Radford
{"title":"A feasibility study of a peer mentoring program for acquired brain injury.","authors":"Richard P G Morris, Blanca de Dios Perez, Shirley Thomas, Neil Coulson, Kathryn Radford","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2634929","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2026.2634929","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Acquired brain injury (ABI) can lead to difficulties in activities of daily living and reduced participation. Few interventions have explored the treatment impact of peer mentoring for people with ABI. This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a peer mentoring intervention (PAIRS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mixed-methods feasibility study with post-intervention interviews. Feasibility was assessed regarding recruitment, retention, and intervention adherence. Acceptability was assessed through post-intervention interviews with mentors, mentees, carers, and healthcare professionals. Effectiveness was assessed using descriptive statistics on quality of life, mood, and goal attainment. Interviews were analyzed using the framework method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four mentor-mentee pairs completed an introductory meeting, and between one and six further meetings. Three carers and five healthcare providers were recruited. More resources, such as improved staffing levels, would have improved recruitment rates. Carers showed reductions in carer burden. Interviews showed that participants valued the social contact provided by mentoring and reported some benefits to quality of life and adaptations to the effects of brain injury. However, they experienced difficulties arranging meetings.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Peer mentoring was challenging and resource-intensive, suggesting a larger effectiveness study using the methods employed here is not feasible. Future studies should address matching procedures, implementation barriers, and consider alternative outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147324614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2617973
Haley Chizuk, Jeffrey C Miecznikowski, Alex Rawlings, Jaffer Sayeed, Mohammad Nadir Haider, John Leddy, Praveen Arany
{"title":"miR-26b-5p responds to aerobic exercise intervention for concussion recovery in adolescent athletes: a pilot trial.","authors":"Haley Chizuk, Jeffrey C Miecznikowski, Alex Rawlings, Jaffer Sayeed, Mohammad Nadir Haider, John Leddy, Praveen Arany","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617973","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Guidelines for sport-related concussion (SRC) management recommend aerobic exercise treatment. Salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) associate with exercise and concussion; therefore, we investigated their expression in adolescents with SRC during prescribed exercise.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Before and after intervention, athletes with SRC (<i>n</i> = 32, 15.78 ± 1.5 y/o, 66% male, 5.26 ± 3.56 days from injury) and controls (<i>n</i> = 28, 15.96 ± 1.7 y/o, 68% male) provided saliva samples and completed clinical exams. High (5 days/week, 30 min) or low (3 days/week, 20 min) volumes of aerobic exercise were assigned. RT-qPCRs were performed to assess 13 pre-selected miRNAs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>miRNAs 1246, 944, 151a-3p, and 26b-5p were reduced (<i>p</i> = 0.0002, 0.0024, 0.0015, 0.0002, CI mean difference: [-4.55, -1.54] [-4.58, -1.08] [-4.77, -1.24] [-5.64, -1.92], respectively) compared to controls. The expression of 182-5p, 532-3p, and 26b-5p increased with exercise volume in concussed participants (<i>p</i> = 0.0035, 0.0035, 0.0020, CI for exercise coefficient: [0.000100, 0.000396] [0.000060, 0.000237] [0.000107, 0.000373], respectively), but not in controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>miRNAs 1246, 944, and 151a-3p may be concussion biomarkers unaffected by aerobic exercise. miR-26b-5p, associated with concussion and exercise volume, may be a useful biomarker to monitor adherence to exercise prescriptions for SRC recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"357-364"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12890018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146008958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2621945
Yasmine V Doust, Hannah Fair, Claire Eccleston, Christine Padgett, Kathleen Doherty, Peta S Cook, Jenna M Ziebell
{"title":"Completion of massive open online course improved knowledge about traumatic brain injury globally.","authors":"Yasmine V Doust, Hannah Fair, Claire Eccleston, Christine Padgett, Kathleen Doherty, Peta S Cook, Jenna M Ziebell","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621945","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2621945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Massive Open Online Course (TBI MOOC) was developed to increase TBI knowledge and reduce misconceptions of TBI in the community.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study assessed participant knowledge of TBI across three domains: <i>1. Perceptions of concussion</i>, <i>2. Emotional and Behavioral change</i>s, and <i>3. Recovery after TBI</i> prior to and after completing the March 2023 iteration of the Understanding TBI MOOC using a modified version of the Common Misconceptions about TBI survey.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants (<i>n</i> = 903) who completed both pre- and post-course surveys had lower baseline knowledge scores about <i>Recovery after TBI</i>, than scores for <i>Perceptions of concussion</i> and <i>Emotional and behavioral changes</i>. Completion of the Understanding TBI MOOC led to an increase in overall survey scores and when broken down into sub-scales regardless of participant demographics or experiences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Understanding TBI MOOC improved survey scores across all demographics and experiences indicating that the MOOC is an effective tool to improve knowledge about TBI in the community.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"417-425"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146112432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2617465
Hanna L Sargénius, Anne E Brandt, Mathilde Chevignard, Ruth Hypher, Stein Andersson, Torun G Finnanger, Torstein B Rø, Kari Risnes, Jan Stubberud
{"title":"Goal management training and psychoeducation for executive function in adolescents with paediatric-acquired brain injuries: a 5-year follow-up.","authors":"Hanna L Sargénius, Anne E Brandt, Mathilde Chevignard, Ruth Hypher, Stein Andersson, Torun G Finnanger, Torstein B Rø, Kari Risnes, Jan Stubberud","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617465","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2617465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine the long-term efficacy of pediatric Goal Management Training (pGMT) versus pediatric Brain Health Workshop (pBHW) in improving executive function (EF) among adolescents with pediatric-acquired brain injury (pABI).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study reports a 5-year follow-up of the CORE trial, which included participants aged 10-17 years at baseline, randomized to either pGMT or pBHW. EF was measured at five timepoints using the parent-rated Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), including the Behavior Regulation Index (BRI) and the Metacognition Index (MI). Outcomes were evaluated using linear mixed models (<i>n</i> = 73) and Reliable Change Index (RCI) analyses (<i>n</i> = 34).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant improvements over time were observed for both BRI (F<sub>(4, 65.615)</sub> = 9.64, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and MI (F<sub>(4, 51.758)</sub> = 4.29, <i>p</i> = 0.004). No significant group differences were detected, indicating that both interventions were associated with comparable long-term trajectories. RCI analyses identified clinically meaningful improvements in 12 participants on the BRI (pGMT, <i>n</i> = 3; pBHW, <i>n</i> = 9) and 20 participants on the MI (pGMT, <i>n</i> = 6; pBHW, <i>n</i> = 11).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adolescents with pABI showed sustained long-term gains in EF over five years following cognitive rehabilitation, with a notable proportion achieving clinical meaningful improvements. However, given study limitations, results should be interpreted with caution.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"311-320"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146017377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Can \"tired bullets\" be fatal?","authors":"Anar Gurbanov, Merve Havan, Fevzi Kahveci, Gökmen Kahiloğulları, Tanıl Kendirli","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2619857","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2619857","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report describes a six year-old boy who was diagnosed as having an accidental firearm injury from a 'tired bullet.' When a shot is fired at a right angle into the sky, the bullet loses its kinetic energy and velocity after a certain distance, then starts to fall and reaccelerate due to gravity. Injuries from free-falling bullets, which are variously referred to as 'tired bullets,' have been on the rise in recent years due to increasing uncontrolled firearm acquisition.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"426-428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146017362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brain injuryPub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2026.2622566
Anchal Thakur, Sayani Das
{"title":"Letter to editor: Peer attitudes after adolescent acquired brain injury: moving from intention to real-world inclusion.","authors":"Anchal Thakur, Sayani Das","doi":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2622566","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02699052.2026.2622566","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescent acquired brain injury (ABI) often results in long-term social challenges, with peer acceptance playing a crucial role in psychosocial outcomes. Hills and Dunsmuir's study highlights how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence adolescents' intentions to engage with peers with ABI, explaining 83% of the variance. Notably, perceived behavioral control was the strongest predictor, indicating that even positive attitudes may not translate into inclusion if engagement is perceived as difficult. Externalizing behaviors further reduce the likelihood of peer acceptance. These findings underscore the need for peer-focused interventions, such as structured mentoring, cooperative learning, and social skills programs, to enhance practical inclusion strategies in educational settings. Clinicians and educators should move beyond awareness-raising toward targeted approaches that make social participation with peers following ABI achievable and sustainable.</p>","PeriodicalId":9082,"journal":{"name":"Brain injury","volume":" ","pages":"429-430"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146084102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}