What is an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)?

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) includes traumatic brain injuries (TBI’S), strokes, brain illness, and any other kind of brain injury acquired after birth. However, ABI does not include what are classified as degenerative brain conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.

What are the most common causes of ABI?

  • Traumatic brain injury, like a blow to the head or hitting one’s head
  • Brain tumours;
  • Brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis;
  • Drug and alcohol abuse ( long-term);
  • Aneurysm ( if there’s rupture and bleeding);
  • Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) , a collection of abnormal blood vessels;
  • Lack of oxygen, like what happens when someone almost drowns;
  • Stroke ( blockage of blood vessels);
  • Violent shaking or some whiplash injuries.

Who is at highest risk for ABI?

  • Males are about 1.5 times as likely as females to sustain a TBI.