Dementia And Traumatic Brain Injury: Mathieu v Hinds & AVIVA

There is a growing trend of claims for provisional damages being brought for the life-long increased risks of developing dementia arising from traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is based on an increasing body of research suggesting that TBIs may increase the risk of dementia.

Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder which is progressive and begins years before symptoms are exhibited. The risk increases with age with 1 in 3 of the UK population developing dementia in their lifetimes. Although there does appear to be an association between TBIs and increased dementia risk, it is also known that not everyone who has experienced a head injury or repeated head injuries will go on to develop dementia. A TBI is just one factor believed to play a potential role; others include age, genetics, smoking, high blood pressure and obesity.