WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department says it is developing programs and initiatives to assist service members and veterans diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
"The department is committed to fast-tracking promising research and to improving the diagnosis and treatment of TBI to benefit service members, veterans and their families," said Kathy Helmick, deputy director for TBI for the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
More than 19,000 service members were diagnosed with a mild TBI, or concussion, last year, a Defense Department release reported Friday.
Significant advancements in TBI management have been made during the last several years, Helmick said.
"Navigating the clinical challenges providers face in the field is critical to ensuring that we're employing state-of-the-art care for all levels of TBI severity, from concussions to severe and penetrating brain injuries," she said.
Following a TBI, people may experience attention issues, memory problems and issues with social, emotional and executive functioning such as planning and judgment, she said.
"We've learned early diagnosis and treatment help to maximize the possibility that members will fully recover from a TBI and return to duty," Helmick said, noting that this applies to injuries suffered while deployed or at home.
