Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts

BIA-MA sponsors in-person and virtual support groups across the state that provide survivors and their loved ones with a forum for sharing information, a compassionate and understanding peer group, and an opportunity to socialize and make new friends.

Visit us biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors then click on the “support groups” tab to see what virtual or in-person meetings are coming up.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or call (508) 475-0032.

Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month occurs every September. The goal of this observance is to raise awareness about what an aneurysm is and to help people understand the potential dangers of brain aneurysms.

Visit this the Brain Aneurysm Foundation online for important and helpful information: https://www.bafound.org/.

Throughout the month of September, we are excited to offer Massachusetts brain injury survivors a variety of fun recreation activities, including a Pleasant Bay boat tour, jewelry making, meditation, and more! Want to join us? Visit our website today to register for one or more of these awesome events: biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors > recreation activities.

International Overdose Awareness Day is held annually on August 31st and is the world's largest campaign to end overdoses. The day aims to remember those who have died from overdoses without stigma, to acknowledge the grief of their loved ones, and to advocate for change. Click here to learn some facts about overdoses and brain injury: https://ow.ly/tqKa50SzJPx.

If you are a professional interested in participating in our upcoming complimentary brain injury workforce development educational workshop, you can register online (for this and other professional development training) by visiting biama.org/forprofessionals.

There’s still time to register for the “Cere-Bration – Walk, Roll, Run”, taking place on Saturday, September 14th. Register by Sunday, September 1st to guarantee your t-shirt size. Join us as an individual participant or organize a team - at the Cere-Bration you also have your choice of walking the 1-mile route, running the 5K, or participating in both! Visit our website to register (or to find out more details): biama.org/cerebration.

Join us! We are offering FREE virtual educational workshops for brain injury survivors, caregivers, and families to learn strategies, to work on skills, to improve communication, and to get access to resources. Register now for one or more upcoming workshops: visit biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors and click on the “educational workshops” tab. Contact us at [email protected] with any questions!

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A BIA-MA membership is an investment in our mission of creating a better future for all affected by brain injury. BIA-MA memberships are annual and need to be renewed once a year to remain current. Membership benefits include a subscription to our printed newsletter, Heads Up Headlines, a subscription to BIAA’s magazine, The Challenge, a discounted rate to attend our annual conference, and more.

Join or renew today: biama.org/getinvolved > membership

BIA-MA is supportive of research efforts regarding the epidemiology, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and facilitation of positive outcomes for individuals who have experienced acquired brain injuries. Visit our website for info about MA research opportunities (including studies and clinical trials) that may be available: biama.org/research.

BIA-MA sponsors in-person and virtual support groups across the state that provide survivors and their loved ones a forum for sharing information, a compassionate and understanding peer group, and an opportunity to socialize and make new friends.

Visit us biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors then click on the “support groups” tab to see what virtual or in-person meetings are coming up.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or call (508) 475-0032.

Throughout the month of August, we are excited to offer Massachusetts brain injury survivors a variety of fun recreation activities, including embroidery for beginners, virtual fitness classes, a visit to Tanglewood, and more! Want to join us? Visit our website today to register for one or more of these awesome events: biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors > recreation activities.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disorder likely caused by repeated head injuries. It causes the death of nerve cells in the brain, known as degeneration. CTE gets worse over time. The only way to definitively diagnosis CTE is after death during an autopsy of the brain. (source: Mayo Clinic)

This week the Washington Post published an article finding that the 2015 concussion settlement’s dementia evaluation was operating behind best practices of the day in 2017. In examining the settlement’s evaluation process, The Post identified two common brain imagining technologies — MRI and amyloid PET (positron emission tomography) — whose exclusion probably has left thousands of former players with assessments that fall far short and saved the NFL tens of millions in medical costs alone, according to expert estimates.

Click here to read the Washington Post article from 8/20/2024: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/20/nfl-concussion-settlement-mri-alzheimer/

Happy Thursday!

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts would like to express our deepest sadness in the death today of Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. of New Jersey. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001. The Task Force works to increase awareness of brain injury in the United States, supports research initiatives for rehabilitation and potential cures, and strives to address the effects such injuries have on families, children, education, and the workforce. In March of this year, the Traumatic Brain Injury bill (H.R. 7208) passed the Full Energy and Commerce Committee: https://ow.ly/WPTb50T3nox. It was an honor for us to have known Congressman Pascrell and BIA-MA sends our most heartfelt sympathy to his loved ones.

Last week we hosted a fun embroidery activity at our Pittsfield Resource Center! If you would like to join us for another upcoming recreation event, visit our website for info on how to participate: biama.org/forcaregiversandsurvivors > recreation activities. Our next outing is a visit to Tanglewood in Lenox, MA on 8/25!

August 21st is National Senior Citizen Day! Senior Citizen Day celebrates the fact that these keepers of wisdom are staying with us longer each year, and in better health. Let's elevate and amplify the voices of our elders with joy & respect!

Massachusetts motorists racked up driving violations at an accelerating rate through the first seven months of 2024, according to data state regulators presented Tuesday. There were nearly 697,000 total violations issued to drivers between January and July. Motorists incurred more than 37,000 violations through the first seven months of the year for using cellphones or other devices behind the wheel, running afoul of a 2019 law designed to crack down on distracted driving. Distracted driving violations spiked in April — 2,241 civil citations, 252 criminal citations and 9,586 warnings —when the state observes “Hands-Free Awareness Month” with additional enforcement. Distracted driving significantly increases the risk of a car accident, the second leading cause of a brain injury.

Drivers in Mass. draw nearly 100,000 violations per month - The Boston Globe The most common violations were speeding, failure to stop or yield, and inspection sticker issues.

As we are getting into the “back to school” time of year, the American Association of Ophthalmology (AAO) has designated August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety month. Whether your high school graduate is ready to take on college life, or your grade schooler is grumbling about starting a new school year, protecting a growing child’s vision is critical as they fully develop in adolescence. Prior to the start of each school year, families should work together to develop a vision care checklist that includes preventive check-ups and vision screenings, as well as eye safety plans. Eye health and brain health are connected, so it is vital to take care of your vision, even at (and especially at) a young age.

Team BIA-MA crossing the Elm road Cheer Station

Family & Friends team members: Alison Pierce, Courtney Farrell, Dawn LeBorgne, Dakota McMahon, Danny Seng, Karen Dmohowski, Kenny Burt, Matt Buttiglieri, Molly MacFarland, Sara MacFarland, Sarah Clancy, Sarah Rehak, Valerie Davis, Eliza Fitch, & Francesca Harris.

Family cheer squad: Kelly Buttiglieri, Jeff Harris, Cameron, Jonathan, & Robin Farrington

Hats off to the personal care giving, therapeutic, and rehabilitative professionals running for BIA-MA: Aisling Desmond, Kaleigh Burns, Madi Kadra, Maura Cutler. Thank you for all that you do for the brain injury community! 💙 🧠

Our Team BIA-MA runners enjoying the scenic Falmouth Road Race 🧠 💙 🏃

Team BIA-MA at the Elm Road Cheer Zone is ready to support our runners & participants of the Falmouth Road Race!

Our Team BIA-MA Falmouth Road Race runners are preparing to board the shuttles to the race’s starting line! Our runners are joining more than 11,000 participants today along Falmouth’s scenic 7-mile course.

A huge shout-out to all the Falmouth businesses this Falmouth Road Race weekend! Thank you to Starbucks_Falmouth for letting us use their front lawn for our team photo (and having the hot coffee ready to!)