Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2

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Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2 MTBI2 is federal research organization on a mission to lessen the impact TBIs have on service members. Following, shares, likes & links ≠ endorsement.

The Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (MTBI2) is a joint federal research organization on a mission to lessen the destructive effects TBIs have on U.S. service members.

Every blast has an impact — and we want to know exactly what that impact looks like. Our teammate, Dr. Michael Roy & his...
10/13/2026

Every blast has an impact — and we want to know exactly what that impact looks like.

Our teammate, Dr. Michael Roy & his team recently published the findings from their INVICTA study, the most comprehensive assessment of neurological outcomes associated with subconcussive blast exposure to date.

Inspired by reports of heavy weapons training (HWT) instructors reporting symptoms like fogginess & headaches after training, the team performed a variety of assessments — including blood biomarkers & tests for memory, gait & hearing — at certain intervals to measure the effects. Instructors were assessed immediately after training & then those same tests were repeated 30 min, 6, 24, 72h, 2 weeks, & 3, 9 & 18 months post-HWT.

The study found that exposure to the blasts was associated with changes in short-term memory, gait & brain function, among others.

However, Dr. Roy's team also found that these symptoms usually resolved within a short period of time.

Still, HWT instructors have already made informal changes to reduce their exposure to blasts, including standing further away & limiting the number of rounds fired.

The INVICTA study is a major step in helping service members & the military medical community better understand the impact that blasts can have on our military personnel.

Read the full article to learn more: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08977151261488794

📸: Army Sgt. Collin Mackall

Hooah!We're proud to share that our director, Dr. Bradley Dengler, was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U...
10/09/2026

Hooah!

We're proud to share that our director, Dr. Bradley Dengler, was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army.

In addition to leading , he is an accomplished neurosurgeon, the director of Neurotrauma/Neurocritical Care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center & an Associate Professor of surgery & neurology at the Uniformed Services University.

Dr. Dengler's expertise in neurocritical care & his career in the Army — including 2 deployments to Iraq — has helped guide the work that we do, ensuring that we're always keeping service members at the forefront of our research.

He has also contributed to the development of objective TBI diagnostic tests & evidence-based treatment guidelines. Dr. Dengler’s work will continue to help service members get personalized, effective treatment so they can return to duty & live full lives.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dengler in the comments!

Sticks & stones may break our bones — but words are pretty important as well.The language we use influences our thoughts...
10/08/2026

Sticks & stones may break our bones — but words are pretty important as well.

The language we use influences our thoughts, feelings & emotions. So, when we speak about & mental health, it's important to avoid words that could perpetuate stigmas around mental health that prevent people from seeking care.

If you're not sure what to say, we've created a quick cheat sheet.

Research shows that experiencing a can increase your risk of depression — which can make recovery feel like even more ...
10/07/2026

Research shows that experiencing a can increase your risk of depression — which can make recovery feel like even more of an uphill climb.

Both can cause symptoms like insomnia, fatigue, feelings of guilt or "worthlessness" & a lack of interest in things you previously enjoyed.

Recovering from a brain injury can also cause a lot of stress both physically & emotionally, which can exacerbate symptoms. Without the proper treatment & support, the symptoms of depression can negatively impact TBI recovery, which can make mental health difficulties even worse.

Recognizing the symptoms of depression (and its connection to TBIs) can help patients get effective treatment sooner.

Mental health care can help improve your quality of life & provide you with a support system — which are the most important factors in improving TBI recovery.

Our friends at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have shared some more information on depression & TBIs, including some resources that may be able to help: https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/mentalhealth/Suicide/TraumaticBrainInjury/142,41371_VA

📸: Army Pfc. Leonardo Martinez Tovar

After experiencing a , it's common for patients to also experience symptoms of depression. A recent study that followed...
10/06/2026

After experiencing a , it's common for patients to also experience symptoms of depression.

A recent study that followed TBI patients at a Level I Trauma Center over the course of 1 year found that 70% of the group experienced "low depression" in the months after their injury. Many of these patients never met the full clinical diagnosis of depression, but experienced symptoms of depression during the year.

They were also less likely to have pre-existing mental health diagnoses than those who experienced more severe depression in the 12 months after TBI.

13% of the patients experienced "delayed depression" — where more severe symptoms did not become evident until months after injury — and 6.2% experienced persistent depression.

Despite their symptoms, many patients felt their mental health care treatment was inadequate.

Experiencing depression can make TBI recovery more difficult & increase risk of other common post-injury symptoms, like substance use.

The study suggests that predicting the severity of depression could allow docs to offer targeted treatments earlier on in the recovery process.

In some cases, patients may be able to receive preventative mental health care, which may help them avoid significant depression symptoms. Adequate mental health care improves patients' trajectories & makes it easier for them to recover quicker & return to a full life after TBI.

Because depression is so common among TBI patients, the more we understand about their connection, the more targeted & effective treatments can be offered — which leads to stronger recoveries.

Learn more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5124751/

📸: Army Pfc. Hunter Carpenter

Your daily cup of joe may come with brain-boosting benefits.Studies have linked moderate coffee consumption to a reduced...
09/29/2026

Your daily cup of joe may come with brain-boosting benefits.

Studies have linked moderate coffee consumption to a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, & depression.

As with everything, moderation matters. The right amount varies from person to person, but for most adults, 2–4 cups of coffee per day (or less than 400 mg of caffeine) is considered safe.

So go ahead and enjoy that morning cup. Your brain may thank you for it.

You can learn more here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37609786/

📸: Augusta Vargas

In all operations — military & medical — every second counts. Take, for example, the Brain Trauma Foundation's new Guide...
09/25/2026

In all operations — military & medical — every second counts.

Take, for example, the Brain Trauma Foundation's new Guidelines for the Management of Penetrating TBIs. The biggest difference between this 2nd edition & the 1st one is the recommendation that these injuries be treated immediately.

“The 1st edition focused extensively on prognosis, which we couldn’t predict at the time,” our director, Dr. Dengler, who contributed to the new guidelines, told the Uniformed Services University.

The new goal is "to move away from the nihilism historically associated with penetrating brain injury.”

Dr. Dengler's recommendations come from both his unique experience as a neurosurgeon, where "we observed individuals with devastating fragment injuries who ultimately recovered [and] returned to independent living," after receiving immediate surgical intervention.

You can learn more about the ways military medicine helped shape the new Guidelines here: https://news.usuhs.edu/2026/08/battlefield-lessons-global-standards.html

📸: DOW photo by Ricardo J. Reyes

Enjoy the autumn season — but don't fall this fall! According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of , particul...
09/22/2026

Enjoy the autumn season — but don't fall this fall!

According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of , particularly among young children & adults over 65. Though have the highest risk of experiencing a fall-related TBI, we want everyone to stay safe this season.

There are a few simple ways to stay steady this fall, including:

🍂 Routine exercise to increase strength & coordination
🍂 Vision & hearing checks to improves balance
🍂 Keep walkways free of hazards (like pumpkins, leaves & decorations)

Leave the scares for Halloween. Stay safe all season long.

📸: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Arachikavitz

Concussions are common injuries — but they aren’t always well understood. Understanding brain injuries helps improve pat...
09/18/2026

Concussions are common injuries — but they aren’t always well understood.

Understanding brain injuries helps improve patient outcomes & treatments.

For , we're breaking down what you need to know about concussions (otherwise known as mild traumatic brain injuries) so you can proactively protect yourself, your team & your loved ones.

Swipe to see answers to some of the most common concussion questions & save this post for future reference!

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