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Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2

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Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2

MTBI2 is federal research organization on a mission to lessen the impact TBIs have on service members. Following, shares, likes & links ≠ endorsement.

The Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (MTBI2) is a joint federal research organization on a mission to lessen the destructive effects TBIs have on U.S. service members.

09/01/2026

Every brain & every person is different — so recovery looks different for everyone who's experienced a .

However, there are some things that have been shown to help patients recover from a TBI.

Doctors have found that techniques like attention training, memory strategies & problem-solving training help improve cognitive function (i.e. attention, memory, executive function).

Researchers are also looking at how new technologies might achieve better outcomes after TBI.

A 2023 study found that a rehab program using virtual reality significantly improved patients’ functional independence & executive function. It also helped reduce anxiety.

For patients with communication difficulties, docs recommend speech therapy. In Group sessions & peer support groups can also help improve patients' ability to communicate.

TBIs can also have physical impacts.

Physical therapy techniques, like gait-training & balance exercises, can be effective for TBI patients. Research has also suggested that task--oriented training — which involves practicing functional tasks in real-world contexts — can help improve motor learning & provides patients with applicable skills.

The ideal TBI recovery plan is personalized to the patient & the injury.

There is no one solution to improving symptoms & long-term outcomes after a brain injury. But we continue to research new techniques that will allow patients the best chance to make a full recovery.

Learn more: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12202449/

📸: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist second class Justin Woods

08/27/2026

Wellness isn't just an activity. It's a state of mind.

From getting adequate sleep to maintaining strong social supports, there are plenty of easy ways to ensure you're looking after every aspect of your health — physical, mental, emotional & social — all year long.

As our friends at HPRC - Human Performance Resources by CHAMP explain, wellness is about developing and maintaining a healthy foundation for life. It's also a process that allows you to reach your full potential. All aspects of wellness feed into one another — feeling your best helps you perform at your best.

And the best part is that many of the things that help improve your wellness are easy, free & able to fit easily into your current lifestyle.

Learn more about optimizing wellness here: https://hprc-online.blogspot.com/2025/11/six-dimensions-of-wellnesscreate.html

08/26/2026

Back to school, back to school to prove to everyone you're not a fool — at least, not when it comes to the human brain.

In honor of back-to-school season, we've pulled together a little pop quiz to test how much you've learned from following us.

The answers are in our comments (no cheating!). Check your work & let us know how you did!

08/24/2026

Service members, start your engines!

While you may have not taken part in the D.C. Grand Prix this weekend, you likely have a lot more in common with IndyCar drivers than you think. Like United States Air Force pilots, drivers need to be able to withstand extreme G-forces during the race.

However, while pilots experience up to 9Gs of vertical force, drivers experience horizontal G-force during turns of up to 3.5 to 5 Gs.

As a result, both groups work on strengthening their necks & cores to be able to maintain control while dealing with up to 50-60lbs of pressure.

Service members undergo intense, often specialized training to be able to make their intense, frequently dangerous jobs look easy.

Elite athleticism comes in many forms — just make sure you’re always wearing a helmet.

📸: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joey Sitter

08/21/2026

It wiggles, it wobbles & it's responsible for all of your thoughts & actions.

People often compare the texture of the human brain to Jello, but that's not quite right. Brain matter is denser than gelatin, meaning that the brain itself is both slightly firm & slightly jiggly.

A more accurate (and equally delicious) comparison would be to flan — the thick, wobbly custard better reflects the brain's makeup.

You can see the different ways the two treats react in our video.

However, both desserts helpfully illustrate the fact that our brains need the skull, membranes, & cerebrospinal fluid to protection against injury. The brain may be bouncy, but it's also wobbly & delicate.

Make sure to treat it with care. And maybe treat *yourself* to a flan or Jello — the brain needs sugar to function, after all!

08/19/2026

So, you want to be proactive about your physical & mental health.

Preventative health is a vital part of mission readiness — after all, it's hard to operate at your best when you don't feel your best. Luckily, it can be easy to check in with your health.

Everything from completing a Periodic Health Assessment & getting a baseline measurement of your health to improving your sleep schedule can have a lasting impact on you both physically & mentally.

It doesn't have to be a complete lifestyle overhaul. It's all about prioritizing yourself now so you can focus on operations later. We've made a simple checklist of some easy ways to look after your physical & mental health ahead of your next mission.

Save this post for future reference — and let us know if there’s anything we forgot in the comments!

08/18/2026

Ready, set — double check!

Mission readiness begins long before you load up your gear. While looking after your physical & mental health might not be exciting, it's a crucial part of being able to complete & succeed in all of our operations.

August is , so it’s the perfect time to think about what "readiness" really means for you & for your brain.

A healthy & high-functioning brain means you can perform to the best of your abilities both on & off the battlefield, as well as guaranteeing that you can support your team.

Instead of waiting until you're injured to look after your health, make sure that you're always operating at the highest level & you'll be ready for everything.

Being in the military can be unpredictable. Make sure you're prepared for whatever comes next.

📸: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. James Bricker

08/13/2026

"This is probably the single most important advancement in traumatic brain injury care in the last 15 to 20 years."

Our director, Dr. Dengler, has been involved in the development of the i-STAT Alinity diagnostic test — which could diagnose a in as little as 15 minutes.

The handheld test uses a small blood sample to analyze biomarkers that indicate the presence of neural damage, without needing any specialized medical training. Due to its size & portability, it could play a key role in diagnosing service members in austere & field environments.

Fast, objective diagnoses mean that injured service members be treated sooner — which improves long-term recovery outcomes.

The i-STAT Alinity will be assessed during operations for U.S. Army Air Defenders & additional Middle East deployments to test its utility in combat.

Read the full article to learn more: https://www.army.mil/article/293918/air_defenders_receive_new_medical_equipment_to_detect_tbis_faster

📸: US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Kohrs

08/12/2026

Our head's not in the clouds — we're dreaming of diagnostic tools that help service members with wherever they are.

A recent study from the Uniformed Services University found that high altitudes can significantly slow down TBI recovery, since low oxygen can send the brain into a state of "crisis."

That crisis state can leave service members vulnerable to further injury or long-term difficulties, despite appearing to have recovered.

Currently, standard return-to-duty protocols rely on visible symptoms, making it impossible to see how the brain remains fragile after injury. Though they may appear to have recovered from their injury, their brain could still be struggling to find the energy to repair itself.

The study's findings suggest a need for more objective tools to diagnose, treat & observe service members with TBIs, regardless of environment. If we are able to perceive the brain's remaining injuries — despite the crisis being "invisible" — we can better prevent reinjury & improve long-term recovery outcomes.

Military personnel never know where they'll be working. We want them to be protected anywhere & everywhere.

📸: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Roland

08/11/2026

Going up? Make sure your brain can handle the air up there.

Chronic exposure to high altitudes creates changes in the brain's anatomy & metabolism, making it more difficult to recover from a concussion, according to new research published by some of our Uniformed Services University colleagues.

Their study found that thinner air creates a state of "metabolic fragility" caused by a surplus of red blood cells that the brain creates to combat low oxygen. These red blood cells divert the glucose supply, leaving the brain without enough energy to properly repair itself.

The result? The brain is in a state of "invisible" crisis for up to weeks afterward, meaning that even though concussion symptoms may appear to be resolved, service members' brains can still be injured.

High altitudes have also been found to significantly slow down TBI recovery — meaning that service members who appear to be recovered may actually still be injured, leaving them vulnerable to further injury & long-term difficulties.

You can learn more about the effect high altitudes have on TBIs & recovery here: https://www.newswise.com/articles/thin-air-high-risk-high-altitude-creates-invisible-energy-crisis-inside-the-concussed-brain

📸: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Vincent Needham

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4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD
20814

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Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm

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+18558242676

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http://mtbi2.usuhs.edu/

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