ABSTRACT
Brain functioning can be negatively affected by injury. The physical area of the brain that is affected by injury is called a lesion. This chapter provides a summary of the most common brain-related injuries that a person is most likely to encounter on a frequent basis. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most frequently encountered brain injuries. It is also one of the most significant causes of death and disability. TBI can result in specific, as well as more general, injuries. A stroke, also referred to as a cerebrovascular accident, is more common in elderly people. Despite this, stroke can and does affect people of working age and even younger, including strokes in babies and children. Stroke often results in considerable and long-term disability, which includes physical impairments. Many types of viruses and bacteria can infect brain. Sometimes the brain itself becomes infected, which leads to inflammation of the tissue known as encephalitis.
