Brain injury and adverse outcomes: a contemporary review of the evidence

Recently, research focusing on the implications of brain injuries for deleterious outcomes spanning a wide range of developmental domains has flourished. Findings from this literature suggest that brain injury is a potent source of risk for negative outcomes including neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and psychiatric diagnoses. Despite this evidence, few studies have examined the extent to which these findings represent a causal relationship. This review outlines the expansive literature in this developing area and provides a discussion of potential threats to internal validity. Finally, suggestions for future research are provided with a particular emphasis on leveraging existing findings to better understand the role of brain injury in the development of deleterious outcomes.