全世界で毎年およそ6900万人がTBIと診断されています(1)。すごい数です。TBIはごく簡単に言うと、打撃を頭に受けて脳機能不全になる状態と定義づけられています。TBIの最大の原因は交通事故、次は落下、そして暴行という統計があります(2)。TBIの程度によっては心身に与えるダメージは甚大で、最悪の場合は死に至ります。発展途上国では若者の主要な死因の一つです。頭って大事だな、と心から思います。いつもヘルメットをかぶっているわけにはいかないけど、せめて自転車に乗る時とかかぶった方が良いと思うのですが、日本ではあまり一般的ではないですね。


It is estimated that almost 69 million people suffer from TBI worldwide every year(1). It is a large number of people. Many papers indicate that the definition of TBI is a brain dysfunction caused by mechanical forces. The main cause of TBI is motor vehicle accidents, followed by falls and assaults(2). The consequence of TBI can be severe, and it can lead to death in the worst case. TBI is one of the main death causes in young people in developing countries. I think that the head is important. We must protect our brains as far as we can. We cannot put helmets all the time, but we should do so at least while riding bicycles. Though, it is uncommon in Japan.

1. Dewan M.C., Rattani A., Gupta S., Baticulon R.E., Hung Y.C., Punchak M., Agrawal A., Adeleye A.O., Shrime M.G., Rubiano A.M., et al. Estimating the global incidence of traumatic brain injury. J. Neurosurg. 2018;130:1080–1097.

2. Myburgh JA1, Cooper DJ, Finfer SR, Venkatesh B, Jones D, Higgins A, Bishop N, Higlett T; Epidemiology and 12-month outcomes from traumatic brain injury in australia and new zealand.J Trauma. 2008 Apr;64(4):854-62.