More than half of homeless individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury

A new review of 26 studies finds that more than 50% of homeless or marginally housed individuals — those in slums or other low-income housing — were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury at some point in their life. Nearly 1 in 4 of these people had moderate to severe forms of TBI, an estimate that is tenfold higher than the estimates for the general population, according to the study. Those with TBI were also more likely to report being in poor health and to use health services frequently. Taken together with other negative health outcomes experienced by those living in poverty — including an increased risk for heart disease and mental illness — the homeless population is especially vulnerable, and health care providers ought to also check for a history of TBI, the authors suggest.