“The global annual incidence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is anywhere from 27 to 69 million. Some of the reasons for this wide variation in the incidence rate include inconsistencies in testing for and defining what constitutes a TBI, the presence of confounders like substance use and medical/mental illness, and the variation in the extent of and the timing of the onset of symptoms. What is consistent though is the morbidity and socioeconomic burden that TBIs cause. In 2010, the economic impact of TBI in the United States was estimated to be $76.5 billion in direct and indirect costs.”

“Active-duty officers and Veterans are disproportionately affected by TBIs, a price they pay repeatedly to protect our liberties and way of life. Unfortunately, the same inconsistencies in diagnosis also affect treatment protocols and ultimately clinical outcomes. TBI patients are often misdiagnosed and treated with therapies that target prevailing symptoms as opposed to addressing core TBI pathology and as a result, they have some of the worst clinical outcomes.”

“The patented protocol that Jeff Haugland and the VIVI team is proposing aims to improve our ability to identify and differentiate TBIs from some of the multiple confounders that sometimes prevent early intervention. They suggest a treatment protocol that specifically targets and attempts to retard and/or reverse the damage caused by TBIs. The testimonies that you hear above are from people who have seen tremendous benefit from the VIVI trials. These same people were willing to pay the ultimate price to keep us safe; supporting treatment protocols that may improve their clinical outcomes and improve their quality of life pales in comparison.”

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in the western world. In the United States, there are up to four million TBIs per year, and the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) reported 500,000 TBIs among U.S. service members between 2000 and 2022. Although most TBIs are considered mild or concussion, these injuries can have serious long-term effects on biological and cognitive-behavioral functioning, as well as mental health.
Indeed, some 20% of civilians and 40% of Vets with TBI will experience a persisting cluster of symptoms known as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Those with PCS frequently have significant co-morbidities such as post-traumatic stress, persisting post-traumatic headaches, depression, and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, those with PCS have higher rates of incarceration, unemployment, divorce, and suicide.
Currently, there are no validated treatments for PCS, making it one of the greatest challenges in clinical science. What therapies do exist typically consist of occupational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or pharmaceutical therapies that target symptoms instead of pathophysiology. This is a critical shortcoming as the multi-dimensional pathophysiology associated with TBI is increasingly well understood. Chronic inflammation, cortical hyperexcitability and glutamate over-binding, and autonomic dysfunction underly the cognitive, somatic, and affective symptoms of PCS, and predispose an individual to long-term neurodegeneration. Therefore, any effective therapy should target one or more of these pathophysiological processes.
The patented protocol that Jeff Haugland and the VIVI team are proposing seeks to directly address these three critical aspects of pathophysiology. Although their focus is targeted interventions, their team also seeks treat the whole person and tailor their therapies to the individual as everyone and every TBI is different. Furthermore, by affiliating with cutting-edge scientists and renowned clinicians, the VIVI team will continue to develop and refine their protocols to deliver the highest quality care to those who need it most.

I have worked for over 30 years caring for active-duty service members and veterans. The impact of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to a veteran and his or her family has life-long implications and its ties to suicidal behavior cannot be overlooked. This injury may present symptoms immediately after sustaining a TBI or months to years later.

Symptoms can range from headaches and sleep disturbances all the way to substance abuse, personality changes and suicidal ideation. Treating these patients holistically, over their remaining lifespan, is critical to understanding the sequala of a TBI and ensuring the optimal health and well-being of the patient and his or her family.

When I was introduced to Jeff Haugland, he told me about his life’s mission to find effective treatments for untreated TBI, especially, though not exclusively, those afflicting the military veteran population. As a veteran myself, I’m interested and supportive of any effort committed to treating TBI. We in the US military have all made a promise to never leave a fallen comrade, and through efforts like Jeff Haugland’s, we will not leave anyone with a brain injury behind.