UTIs are common post-TBI complications affecting 15% of brain injury patients yearly, yet their cognitive impact has been largely overlooked in clinical practice. Mouse studies reveal UTIs trigger delayed inflammatory responses in brain immune cells, greatly exacerbating spatial memory impairment beyond TBI alone.
UTI After Brain Injury Worsens Cognitive Decline, Study Shows
TBI survivors experience worsened cognitive decline and increased hospitalizations when secondary UTIs develop, impacting quality of life and recovery trajectories.