Life care planning for acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the leading cause of neurological impairment for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30 years of age. ABI technically includes brain injury as a result of cerebrovascular disease. The costs associated with treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are estimated to be $48.3 billion annually. The outer surface of the brain is called the cerebral cortex. The cortex of the brain is divided into lobes that represent areas of specific functioning. The cerebellum is an area of the brain that facilitates coordinated motor movements. Brain injuries can be classified by a number of methods. ABIs are generally classified as traumatic, anoxic/hypoxic-ischemic, vascular, or other. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their function. Common endocrine disorders following brain injury include syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone (SIADH), growth hormone deficiency, and irregularities of gonadal steroid production, and thyroid dysfunction. Typical neurological problems include weakness, sensory deficits, and the previously mentioned cranial nerve problems.