A study has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by disrupting protein clearance, leading to the accumulation of toxic tau proteins in the brain. Researchers discovered that TBI downregulates BAG3, a protein crucial for clearing damaged proteins, which contributes to Alzheimer's-related tau buildup.

Scientists have found that transcranial infrared light therapy may promote tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In animal studies, brief daily infrared treatments reduced harmful inflammatory activity and cell death in the brain post-injury.