Research
March 20, 2026
By Emily Meenan
New research suggests that having a traumatic brain injury, even a mild one, may increase the likelihood of qualifying for work disability years later.
In a study published on February 11, 2026, in Neurology®, people with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) of any severity were more likely to qualify for work disability for up to five years after injury compared to people without brain injuries. The results show a connection but do not prove that TBI causes work disability.
TBIs can happen after events like car crashes or sports injuries. Many TBIs are considered mild, but people don’t always fully recover. Some people continue to have symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, trouble concentrating, mood changes, or memory problems, which can make working difficult.
“Traumatic brain injury can result in disability that may make it difficult to return to work, yet being employed is essential for maintaining quality of life and financial stability,” said study author Andrea Klang, MD, a researcher from Uppsala University in Sweden. “Our study found no matter the severity, traumatic brain injury was associated with a higher likelihood of a person qualifying for work disability.”
Researchers used national health registries in Sweden to identify nearly 100,000 people with TBI and nearly one million people without brain injury. Participants were grouped by injury severity, from mild to severe. During the five-year study period, work disability was more common in all TBI groups compared to those without a brain injury.
Overall, this study suggests that TBI of any severity should not be dismissed. Even people with milder injuries experienced higher rates of work disability than those without brain injury, highlighting the importance of follow-up care and attention to cognitive, emotional, and physical symptoms over time.
One limitation of the study is that it only included people in Sweden, so results may be different in other countries.
Key Takeaways
In this study, people with traumatic brain injuries of any severity were more likely to qualify for work disability compared to people who did not have a brain injury.
Even mild traumatic brain injuries can have lasting effects that make it hard to return to work.
This study shows the need for ongoing, personalized rehabilitation for all traumatic brain injuries, not just the most severe.
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