Stress influences TBI outcomes differently in males and females

A new study has found that stress affects the outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) differently in males and females. This research is particularly important for understanding TBI in military personnel, who often face both injuries and stress. The study was conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech, led by Pamela VandeVord, and funded by the US Department of Defense. They used a stress model on rats before inducing TBI to replicate injuries similar to those from combat explosions. The researchers examined anxiety-like behavior and social motivation in rats that experienced both stress and TBI. They compared these outcomes to groups that faced either stress or TBI alone and to a control group with no exposures. The findings showed that males who experienced both stress and TBI had increased anxiety levels, but some social motivation was preserved. In contrast, female rats with prior stress and TBI showed opposite social behavior effects. However, the anxiety levels were similar between sexes in the group that experienced both stress and TBI. Interestingly, female rats that only suffered TBI were more motivated to socialize compared to their male counterparts, who did not exhibit the same behavior. This study highlights the need to consider factors like prior stress and sex when evaluating TBI outcomes.