Exploring long-term emotional and cognitive deficits in older adults with remote mild traumatic brain injury

Project Summary

Past research suggests there can be long-term consequences of a past concussion, such as poorer emotional regulation and chronic cognitive changes. The present study will measure and compare emotion regulation capabilities, expressions of depression and anxiety, along with cognitive measures of attention and memory, in older adults with and without a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Typical aging is associated with an enhancement in ability to regulate emotion and is marked by positive affect. As well, typical aging is associated with cognitives changes, particularly ability to recruit attention and in memory functioning. Baseline data from the CLSA Comprehensive Cohort will be used to examine these measures in participants between 65 and 85 years of age. This study aims to determine whether there are long-term consequences from a mTBI experienced long ago, and to evaluate whether aging amplifies cognitive deficits or changes one’s ability to regulate emotions.