Missouri receives $1 million grant for brain injuries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has received a $1 million grant to better treat those with traumatic brain injuries.

Missouri plans to use the federal grant money for a variety of projects aimed particularly at underserved groups such as minorities and those living in rural areas.

Fifteen other states also qualified for the federal grant, but Missouri is one of the few states to receive the money each year since the grant program started in 1997.

According to the state health department, 14,000 people are taken to emergency rooms or hospitals each year for traumatic brain injuries. The injuries frequently are caused by vehicle crashes, sports injuries and violence and can affect cognitive abilities, speech and vision.