Brain injury in intimate partner violence: insight into a silent pandemic

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious problem that affects one in six women in Australia, and it is the leading cause of preventable death, disability, and illness in women aged 15 to 44. Physical attacks in IPV often result in brain injuries, however there is a lack of understanding of the nature of these injuries as they have been commonly overlooked in this population. While mild TBI (mTBI) is the most common type of brain injury in IPV, previous mTBI research is heavily focused on athletes and military personnel, which may not be generalizable to IPV survivors. For example, in IPV, mTBI may occur with non-fatal strangulation, and conjunction with psychological trauma, which may worsen its effect. There are also no interventions known to improve the long-term recovery of IPV survivors. This project aims to understand the consequences and burden of mTBI in IPV using novel biomarkers such as advanced neuroimaging, blood biomarkers, and neuropsychological assessment. We will also assess the efficacy of an aerobic exercise intervention to improve neuropsychological outcomes in IPV.