Kathryn Bates is a third-year PhD candidate in the Integrative Neuroscience program at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Kathryn earned her BS in Biology and Psychology from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, where she studied maternal behavior and its effects on cognition in rats across multiple generations. Kathryn’s dissertation research is centered on effective treatment to improve functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury. Using a mouse model of traumatic brain injury, her current project aims to characterize inflammatory and behavioral improvements following administration of a novel pharmacological agent. Her long-term goal is to evaluate clinically-relevant treatment using rodent models, and determine if sex is a mediator in the treatment response. When Kathryn isn’t in the lab you can find her baking, reading, or coaching adaptive sports!
Abstract: Traumatic Brain Injury in Women: Avenues for Novel Treatment
Authors: Kathryn Bates [1]
[1] Dartmouth College
Worldwide, traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to more death and disability than any other trauma-related injury. Although most TBIs are classified as mild to moderate in severity, brain injury can lead to sequelae, such as mood disorders, sleep disorders, and memory deficits, that can persist for weeks to years post-injury. Historically, sex differences in TBI have been understudied. Men have higher prevalence and mortality rates compared to women, which has been associated with increased high-risk behavior. However, women do not recover from TBI as well as their male counterparts. This talk will discuss recent literature surrounding TBI outcomes in women, focusing on injury prognosis and the potential for novel immunological treatments.