Neurocognitive performance and prior injury among U.S. Department of Defense military personnel

Abstract

This study examined the neurocognitive performance of U.S. military personnel completing the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (version 4) TBI Military (ANAM4 TBI-MIL) battery as part of the Department of Defense Neurocognitive Functional Assessment Program. Descriptive analyses utilizing the ANAM4TBI Military Performance Database were performed. We examined ANAM Composite Score (ACS) differences between five injury subgroups (no injury, brain injury with current symptoms, brain injury without current symptoms, nonbrain injury with current symptoms, and nonbrain injury without current symptoms) using general linear mixed modeling. Almost 11% (70,472/641,285) reported brain injury in the 4 years before assessment. The ACS differed significantly by injury group (p < 0.0001). In comparison to the no injury group, those reporting brain injury with current symptoms (d = -0.44) and nonbrain injury with current symptoms (d = -0.24) demonstrated significantly reduced ACS scores (p < 0.0001) indicative of reduced neurocognitive proficiency. In this population-based study of U.S. military personnel, neurocognitive performance was significantly associated with reported injury within the past 4 years among those experiencing current symptoms. Occupational programs focusing on prospective brain health of injured population groups are warranted.