Trauma and strokes are the most common forms of Acquired Brain Injury. Statistically, the elderly, children, young people, and males are at the highest risk for these injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Statistics:
- Children ages 0-14 and young people 15-19 are at the highest risk for TBI.
- Adults over 75 are at the highest risk for hospitalization and death due to TBI.
- Men are nearly three times as likely to die from TBIs as women and have significantly higher rates of hospitalization and emergency room visits for non-fatal TBIs.
- An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 sports-related TBIs occur annually in the U.S. The activities with the highest number of injuries are cycling, football, baseball, softball, and basketball.
Stroke Statistics:
- Nearly 75% of all strokes occur in people age 65 and over.
- The risk of stroke more than doubles each decade after a person turns 55.
- African Americans have higher stroke death rates compared to Caucasians.
- Current smokers are at double the risk of ischemic strokes compared to non-smokers.
- The highest rate of stroke deaths in this country occurs in the Southeastern U.S. and Mississippi Valley.