New study coauthored by OHIO researcher finds intimate partner violence leaves lasting brain injuries and mental health issues

A new study in the Journal BMJ Mental Health, coauthored by Dr. Graciela Muniz-Terrera, Ohio University professor of Social Medicine and Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O. Endowed Professor in Health and Aging in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, offers powerful new evidence that women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) face lasting brain health consequences, often decades after the abuse has ended.

The study, funded in part by The Drake Foundation and based on data from the UK’s PREVENT Dementia cohort, focused on individuals who experienced IPV-related physical abuse, many of whom also suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions or loss of consciousness. Unlike previous research, which has primarily looked at short-term impacts, this study links early- and mid-life exposure to physical abuse with mental health disorders seen as late as 27 years later.

“What makes this study different is that we were able to work with historical data,” said Dr. Muniz-Terrera. “For this study, we looked back asking participants about their past exposure and comparing that with clinically assessed mental health symptoms and diagnoses gathered decades later.”

Of the 632 mid-life participants studied (aged 40–59 at recruitment), 14% reported a history of IPV-related physical abuse. Those individuals showed significantly higher rates of TBI exposure and were more likely to experience ongoing depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms and sleep disorders even after an average of 27 years since the abuse had ended. The findings highlight the compounding impact of multiple brain injuries in IPV survivors, many of whom were women. Some participants reported repeated concussions, severe enough to cause loss of consciousness.

“Unfortunately, most of the individuals exposed to this kind of violence are women,” Dr. Muniz-Terrera added. “Many of them had histories of traumatic brain injury, and we were able to explore how these injuries amplified the mental health impact. The effects weren’t minor—they were substantial and persistent.”

Dr. Muniz-Terrera, who supervised the Ph.D. student leading the study, said the team is now preparing to analyze longitudinal imaging and cognitive data from the wider PREVENT study cohort to explore how early exposure to violence may influence brain aging and dementia risk.

The PREVENT study includes over 700 participants from across the UK, initially recruited between ages 40–59 to identify early markers of dementia. Now in their 60s, many are still being followed to understand how brain and mental health trajectories evolve over time.

“Our ultimate goal is to identify when things begin to deteriorate—not just in brain health, but in everyday cognitive and emotional functioning,” said Dr. Muniz-Terrera. “This work is crucial because IPV is still far too common all over the world, and the long-term effects—especially for women—are profound.”