(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The number of civilians in the United States living with a long-term disability from traumatic brain injury (TBI) is now estimated to be 3.17 million, according to a new article published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (Vol. 23, No. 6, pp. 394-400). The new prevalence estimate reflects the use of updated methodology and is not indicative of a reduction in the annual incidence of TBI, which remains at 1.4 million civilians in the U.S. The estimate is based on the results of statistical modeling and analysis of TBI hospitalization data from three states (Maryland, Vermont and New Jersey) in 2005 and does not include persons with TBI who were treated and released from the emergency department or other healthcare setting and those who did not seek treatment. 
           
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) applauds the CDC for funding this important research and urges swift and widespread use of the new prevalence estimate in the field of brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of America reminds advocates, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and the public that the 3.17 million people living in the U.S. with a long-term disability are unique individuals whose lives are forever changed by their injuries and who need and deserve ongoing specialized rehabilitation, lifelong neurological disease management and individualized services and supports in order to maximize their health, independence and happiness.

The site states that early identification of patients with cognitive problems after a traumatic brain injury is imperative in the management of the injury. The most common symptom associated with mild traumatic brain injury is memory loss or amnesia.

You can read more on Macquaire University's presentation here.

The worst diet wrecker of all time?

It  has to be sugar - pure, white and deadly.

Why is sugar such a demon?

• Sugar is calorie dense and without eating very much in quantity you will quickly consume a whole load of calories.
• Not only that but it's very natural to love sweet foods - so you want to eat more and more of it
• Sugar is often combined with high fat foods - just think about cakes, cookies, ice cream and chocolate so you get extra calories along with your sugar
• And because sugar has very little nutritional value or bulk it does not help to satisfy your appetite
• Last but not least, eating sugar rapidly raises blood sugar and insulin levels which increase your tendency to store excess energy as fat

The innocent looking white stuff has a lot to answer for but it's easy enough to avoid if you can see it.

The real problem is that we all eat a whole load of  sugar when we don't even know it's there.

• It's often consumed in beverages
• It's hidden in almost every manufactured food product.
• Not all of the products which contain sugar mention sugar in the list of ingredients on the packaging - sugar comes in all different variants so it's important to understand that fructose including high-fructose corn syrup, glucose, lactose, molasses, sucrose, dextrose, galactose and honey are all forms of sugar too and many products will have several of these included in the ingredients making up a huge proportion of the total.

To avoid eating too much sugar

• look out for those hidden ingredients and avoid buying products which load up their foods with empty calories
• eat (rather than drink) your calories - drink plain or sparkling water, herbal tea or black coffee
• eat slow-release whole grain carbohydrates which don't cause insulin levels to spike in place of sugar

 Of course I'm not saying ban sugar altogether (unless it's a real addiction and once you start you just can't stop). Just keep your sugar eating in moderation (maybe a square of chocolate after dinner) rather than filling yourself with empty calories and piling on the pounds.