Abdi Hamed, Sanchez-Molina David, Garcia-Vilana Silvia, Rahimi-Movaghar Vafa
Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
UPC GRABI, Eduard Maristany, 14, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Prog Biomed Eng (Bristol). 2025 Feb 4;7(2). doi: 10.1088/2516-1091/ada654.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) pose a significant health concern among the elderly population, influenced by age-related physiological changes and the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the biomechanical dimensions of TBIs in this demographic is vital for developing effective preventive strategies and optimizing clinical management. This comprehensive review explores the intricate biomechanics of TBIs in the elderly, integrating medical and aging studies, experimental biomechanics of head tissues, and numerical simulations. Research reveals that global brain atrophy in normal aging occurs at annual rates of -0.2% to -0.5%. In contrast, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis are associated with significantly higher rates of brain atrophy. These variations in atrophy rates underscore the importance of considering differing brain atrophy patterns when evaluating TBIs among the elderly. Experimental studies further demonstrate that age-related changes in the mechanical properties of critical head tissues increase vulnerability to head injuries. Numerical simulations provide insights into the biomechanical response of the aging brain to traumatic events, aiding in injury prediction and preventive strategy development tailored to the elderly. Biomechanical analysis is essential for understanding injury mechanisms and forms the basis for developing effective preventive strategies. By incorporating local atrophy and age-specific impact characteristics into biomechanical models, researchers can create targeted interventions to reduce the risk of head injuries in vulnerable populations. Future research should focus on refining these models and integrating clinical data to better predict outcomes and enhance preventive care. Advancements in this field promise to improve health outcomes and reduce injury risks for the aging population.
创伤性脑损伤（TBI）在老年人群中是一个重大的健康问题，受年龄相关的生理变化和神经退行性疾病患病率的影响。了解这一人群中TBI的生物力学维度对于制定有效的预防策略和优化临床管理至关重要。这篇综述探讨了老年人TBI复杂的生物力学，整合了医学和衰老研究、头部组织的实验生物力学以及数值模拟。研究表明，正常衰老过程中全球脑萎缩的年发生率为-0.2%至-0.5%。相比之下，阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病和多发性硬化症等神经退行性疾病与明显更高的脑萎缩率相关。这些萎缩率的差异凸显了在评估老年人TBI时考虑不同脑萎缩模式的重要性。实验研究进一步表明，关键头部组织力学特性的年龄相关变化增加了头部受伤的易感性。数值模拟为衰老大脑对创伤事件的生物力学反应提供了见解，有助于预测损伤并制定针对老年人的预防策略。生物力学分析对于理解损伤机制至关重要，并为制定有效的预防策略奠定基础。通过将局部萎缩和特定年龄的撞击特征纳入生物力学模型，研究人员可以制定有针对性的干预措施，以降低脆弱人群头部受伤的风险。未来的研究应专注于完善这些模型并整合临床数据，以更好地预测结果并加强预防护理。该领域的进展有望改善老年人群的健康结果并降低受伤风险。
