335 Social participation and cognitive functioning after traumatic brain injury

Objectives/Goals: The goal of this project is to integrate human and animal data to explore the relationship between social participation and cognitive functioning after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Further, we aim to determine whether reduced social participation is not only a consequence of TBI but a potential driver of post-injury cognitive deficits. Methods/Study Population: This study uses a translational framework to examine how social participation influences cognitive outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) using complementary human and animal models. Longitudinal TBIMS data will be analyzed to assess associations between social participation (PART-O: productivity, out and about, social relations) and cognition (BTACT: memory, fluency, reasoning, processing speed) using linear regression (potentially a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model to capture bidirectional effects over time). Further, mice with mild, moderate, or severe TBI will be housed in isolated, standard, or enriched social environments. Post-injury cognitive performance (NOR, Y-maze) and neuronal proliferation and survival in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus will be evaluated. Results/Anticipated Results: We anticipate that both humans and animals with greater social participation will demonstrate superior cognitive performance over time. In the animal model, we further expect that mice housed in social or enriched environments will exhibit reduced cell death and enhanced neuronal survival in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus compared to socially isolated counterparts. Discussion/Significance of Impact: Together, these findings may inform future rehabilitation strategies that integrate social participation as a core component of cognitive recovery supporting more personalized and multidisciplinary approaches to chronic TBI care.