Associate Professor Jasmeet Hayes' team of researchers studies lesser-discussed causes of head injury, such as domestic violence, and their long-term impact.
By James Grega
Senior Content Specialist
grega.9@osu.edu
When you think about head injuries and their causes, sports and auto accidents are probably the first thing that comes to mind. While that is often the case, the MINDSET Lab at Ohio State studies other causes of head injuries and how to best recover from them.
“We're investigating the long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injury, and in association with experiences like post-traumatic stress,” said lab director and associate professor of psychology, Jasmeet Hayes. “In certain individuals, TBI and PTSD can make the brain more vulnerable to faster-than-expected aging and dementia.”
Hayes came to Ohio State from Boston University School of Medicine as part of Ohio State’s directive to build a chronic brain injury program. She founded the MINDSET Lab to study not only individuals involved in sports and auto accidents, but also survivors of traumatic brain injury from military service and domestic violence.
“When you look at some of the statistics, it's staggering,” she said. “Hundreds of women are killed each year in Ohio and thousands receive services because of domestic violence. Often, head injuries go undocumented. If a survivor goes to the emergency room, visible injuries such as cuts and bruises are asked about and treated. But head injuries are often not asked about because it's more of an invisible injury.”