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Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

The Department of Defense leads in the treatment and research of brain-related injuries and is committed to identifying breakthroughs to improve the lives of individuals who have sustained brain injuries. DOD’s efforts address a holistic view at brain health and brain injuries—before, during, and after any blast exposure or other injury.

The DOD considers protectingtreating, and optimizing brain health a top priority.

Evergreen Brain Injury Awareness image

TBI, considered one of the signature wounds of war in the 21st century, presents complex and challenging problems for many of our service members.

More than 490,000 service members have sustained TBI since 2000, according to reports from the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.

See below for TBI resources for health care providers, leaders, service members, veterans, families, and caregivers.

 

Protecting Brain Health

Leaders are in a unique position to protect their service members.

 

Treating Brain Health

TBI is treatable, and recovery is expected with appropriate care.

 

Optimizing Brain Health

Military health care providers can be brain warriors and help optimize resources.

TBICoE's BIAM Activities

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More BIAM Events

For in-person and virtual events at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, check out the Brain Awareness Day and the virtual Science Café event information.

Brain Awareness Day Sat. March 16. Free for everyone. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Virtual Science Cafe. Headache and TBI: The evolution of Medication. A virtual event held on the Facebook @medicalmuseum on March 28, 2024 at 11 a.m. ET.

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Report
Feb 22, 2024

2023 DOD Worldwide Numbers for TBI

.PDF | 1010.28 KB

TBICoE is the Defense Department’s office of responsibility for tracking traumatic brain injury data in the U.S. military. Here you’ll find data on the number of active-duty service members—anywhere U.S. forces are located—with a first-time TBI diagnosis in calendar year 2023. The data is also broken down by each branch of the armed services.

Calendar Event
Feb 16, 2024

Virtual Reality, "Walk and Talk" Therapy, and Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories: How Novel Interventions Can Improve the Care of Post-traumatic Stress

A NICOE educational offering with a guest speaker on Virtual Reality, "Walk and Talk" Therapy, and Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories - part of 2024 BIAM event lineup.

Article
Feb 15, 2024

From Patients to Students: How the Intrepid Spirit Center in Fort Belvoir is Transforming Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

From Patients to Students: How the Intrepid Spirit Center in Fort Belvoir is Transforming Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatments

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the headquarters of the Defense Intrepid Network for Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health, which consists of 10 Intrepid Spirit Centers located at military bases throughout the U.S., in addition to two TBI clinics in Alaska and Germany.

Topic
Feb 9, 2024

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence

The NICoE is a Department of Defense organization and the senior member of Defense Intrepid Network for Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health. The NICoE is dedicated to improving the lives of patients and families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) through collaborative efforts with patients, families, referring providers, and researchers.

Article
Feb 9, 2024

Hard Times Lead to Passion to Serve Recovering Service Members

Hard Times Lead to Passion to Serve Recovering Service Members

For veteran Martin Del Rio, an Education and Employment Initiative and Operation Warfighter regional coordinator, the passion he has for his job and the recovering service members he serves comes directly from the turbulence of his own life experience.

Infographic
Feb 8, 2024

Brain Injury Awareness Month: Infographic

Brain Injury Awareness Month infographic, visit health.mil/BIAMonth.

Even a mild traumatic brain injury can impact mission readiness and the ability to deploy. #BeABrainWarrior by understanding the signs and symptoms of TBI and knowing when to seek care. TBI is treatable and recovery is possible. https://health.mil/BIAMonth #BIAMonth

Article Around MHS
Feb 5, 2024

U.S. Army Medical Research & Development Command Supports Development of Blast Injury Prevention Standard

 Researchers from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research used data collected during live fire training exercises to create accurate 3D simulations of blast overpressure exposures on virtual weapons crews to help training range managers, range safety officers and instructors position personnel to minimize their exposure to shock waves created by the firing of heavy weapons. The color coding indicates the blast pressure intensity as the wave expands and dissipates.

A new tool being developed by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s DOD Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office will help Service Members protect themselves from the effects of high-pressure shock waves created by heavy weapons when they are fired during training.

Video
Jan 31, 2024

Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

Be a Brain Warrior: Protect. Treat. Optimize.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence is championing the theme 'Be a Brain Warrior: Protect, Treat, Optimize' during Brain Injury Awareness Month. The theme showcases the idea that service members, veterans, healthcare providers, caregivers, family members, and advocates can be warriors for brain health. Visit health.mil/BIAMonth to learn more.

Video
Jan 29, 2024

TBI Testimonials: Roxana Delgado & Victor Medina

TBI Testimonials: Roxana Delgado & Victor Medina

While he was deployed, retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Victor Medina was in a vehicle that was hit by an explosive device. He sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that severely impaired some of his physical functions and ability to speak. Medina’s wife, Roxana Delgado, continued her pursuit of a Ph.D. in health sciences and became his caregiver. As ...

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Last Updated: April 02, 2024
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