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Living with a Brain Injury During Covid-19

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Why We Created This Video

Coping with a brain injury is never easy. The Covid-19 pandemic may exacerbate the cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Being trapped at home can be frightening. For brain injury survivors, removed from day programs, club houses, and support groups amplifies their fear and isolation. Their symptoms may worsen.

People with a brain injury may not understand the scope of the pandemic and its unusual demands, such as the need to wear masks, heightened protocols for social distancing, and repeated handwashing.

We have created this video to remind those interacting with brain injury survivors, including medical providers, first responders, legal professionals, families, and friends to provide additional understanding, support, assistance, and special care necessary to those with TBI.

Take a moment to check on a neighbor, friend, family member, or client suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Let a brain injury survivor know they are not alone. Regardless of your occupation or profession, there is always something you can do, or say, or someone you can help.

The Invisible Rain Cloud

The first section of the video — “Imagine one day you woke up in a foreign country…” — echoes the script of our video “The Invisible Rain Cloud”, which describes the experiences of an individual living with traumatic brain injury. Watch “The Invisible Rain” Cloud below, or find out more here.

Additional Information

2024 Long Covid and Brain Damage Update

Long Covid has been associated with persistent brain impairment.

During the pandemic many patients developed neurological complications ranging from headaches, difficulties in concentration, memory issues, and mental fatigue to encephalitis, seizures, and even strokes.

Some individuals describe their symptoms simply as “brain fog.”

Is there new research to understand the mechanism of how long covid causes long lasting neurological and brain damage?

Research is ongoing to understand the precise mechanisms underlying neurological symptoms in long COVID. 

High levels of inflammatory markers showing an abnormal immune response by the body are often identified in these patients. 

Recently, researchers in England examined the blood of these patients’ months after discharge and found high levels of these markers even when routine blood testing was normal.

The study published in the journal Nature Communications at the end of December is important to Covid-19 survivors because it shows neurological damage can persist for months even after testing seems normal. 

What are the implications of finding biomarkers to identify long covid neurological damage in patients?

Use of these biomarkers in identifying patients with Long-Covid will be helpful in developing strategies, which may include rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, or other interventions to help individuals manage and recover from the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Long COVID can affect individuals despite the severity of their first COVID-19 infection, and it can occur in people of any age.

The condition has led to increased awareness of the potential long-term health consequences of COVID-19 and has prompted ongoing research to better understand its underlying mechanisms and identify effective treatments.

If you suspect you may have long COVID, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management.

Covid Disability

Many symptoms associated with long Covid are similar to those found after a concussion or other type of brain injury. In this episode of Brain Injury Insider, host Michael Kaplen discusses problems faced by Covid “long haulers” when filing disability insurance claims.

Long-term Neurological Impact and Nuances

Michael Kaplen discusses the long-term neurological impact and nuances of Covid-19.

Covid-19 And Brain Damage Update

Michael Kaplen discusses the lingering neurological effects of Covid-19, which can mimic many of the symptoms found in brain injury survivors.

Can Covid-19 Cause Brain Damage? Studies Suggest The Answer Could Be Yes.

Michael Kaplen discusses the findings of recent studies, which conclude that Covid-19 can cause functional and structural brain damage in some individuals.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Brain Injury Survivors

Michael Kaplen discusses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on brain injury survivors, and the considerations that must be given by caregivers, loved ones, and those interacting with TBI survivors during these unprecedented times.

“Brain Fog”, The Covid-19 Symptom Shared With Brain Injury Survivors

Michael Kaplen discusses the similarities between “brain fog”, a symptom of Covid-19, and the cognitive issues experienced by many brain injury survivors.

Please Help Support The Brain Injury Association of America

Brain injury is not on pause during the COVID-19 health crisis and neither is BIAA.

While social distancing is new to many across our country, we in the brain injury community are very familiar with the anxiety that comes with not knowing how brain injury survivors can take care of their daily needs. The Brain Injury Association of America is committed to ensure individuals with brain injuries and their families continue to feel connected, supported, and informed.

That’s why your continued financial support is so critically important, please donate today! https://www.biausa.org/support/donate-your-way

Useful Resources

Adjusting to a new way of living and working is difficult in these unsettling times. It is especially difficult for those with disabilities. Here are collected resources you might find useful.

General Health Information:

Civil Rights:

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) Resources:

Traumatic Brain Injury Resources:

Veteran Resources:

Additional Resources:

About Shana & Michael

Shana De Caro and Michael V. Kaplen.

Shana De Caro and Michael V. Kaplen are personal injury attorneys dedicated to assisting brain injury survivors navigate the road after traumatic brain injury. With extensive experience in representing victims of brain trauma, they are prepared to guide brain injury victims through the legal obstacles they will confront and recover full and fair compensation for the harms and losses their clients have suffered as a result of someone’s careless or negligent conduct.

De Caro & Kaplen, LLP is a New York personal injury law firm focused on representing victims of brain injury. Our attorneys have the knowledge and skill to make a crucial difference in the lives of brain injury victims. Specialized brain injury cases require a law firm with the experience and proficiency to assist brain injury victims through the most difficult legal challenges in their lives following a traumatic brain injury.

Shana and Michael are nationally recognized for their advocacy on behalf of brain injury victims. Shana is Vice Chair of the Brain Injury Association of America . Michael is a three-term past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and current Chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council. They have been designated Preferred Attorneys for the Brain Injury Association of America.

Their opinions on traumatic brain injury are frequently sought by The New York Times, USA Today, The Daily News, Fox News Network, and others. They are widely respected throughout the legal, medical, and judicial communities. The two regularly lecture lawyers, medical professionals, and judges, across the nation on how traumatic brain injury clients and cases should be evaluated and handled in and out of the courthouse.