Searching for the answers to questions about traumatic brain injury

April 30, 2013 (Press-News.org) Searching for the answers to questions about traumatic brain injury

Article provided by Donohue, Sabo, Varley & Huttner, L.L.P.
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We live in a fast-paced world where cars are driven faster, sports are one of the most popular forms of entertainment and many search for the next big thrill. However, with a world that travels at high speeds comes a higher risk of serious injury when someone crashes--especially brain injury.

The NFL has been the subject of several civil liability lawsuits filed by families of players who died from brain injuries received in the sport. Last year, a well-known ex-player, Junior Seau, killed himself and was posthumously diagnosed as having a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a brain disease that happens when someone has suffered too many concussions or hits to the head and it has been diagnosed in several other players after they died, raising public concern.

Traumatic brain injury

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that accidents in the U.S. cause 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries each year. One of the most common sources of a TBI is a concussion. Concussions can occur from hitting your head in a car accident, playing a sport or just bumping your head while moving a piece of furniture.

New York's Department of Health reminded people in March to protect themselves from becoming the victim of a brain injury. Statistics show that 140,000 New Yorkers are treated for brain injury every year.

Risks and dangers associated with TBI

Many people easily recover from a concussion with a few days of rest while others seem to struggle with the aftereffects of a concussion for the rest of their life. Each person reacts to a traumatic brain injury differently and once a person has had a concussion, they are more likely to have another one.

The increased public attention brought by stories about sports players and soldiers suffering from traumatic brain injuries has spurred funding for research on the matter. It has also served to make people more aware of the long-term dangers and risks associated with concussions and TBI.

Risks and dangers associated with brain injury:
-Developing a form of dementia, including Alzheimer's
-Trouble communicating with others or comprehending things
-Complications with memory and thinking
-Personality changes, withdrawing from family and friends, depression, anxiety
-Parkinson's Disease

The more TBI's a person experiences the higher the risk is of suffering permanent brain damage.

Research slowly uncovering the answers

Medical scientists are starting to slowly discover the mysteries of the human brain and each new finding brings them closer to discovering how to help those who suffer with injuries. At the same time, researchers admit that they have a long way to go, ABC News reports.

Still, some progress is being made. Researchers are attempting to understand how proteins influence thought since there is a clear relationship between proteins that lose their normal shape and dementia.

There are also advancements being made in understanding the network that chemical and electrical signals are sent through. It is the hope of researchers that as they learn more about these systems, they will find ways in how to fix them when they break down, enabling doctors to repair them and reverse the damages caused by a traumatic brain injury.

If you believe you have suffered a brain injury because of another party's negligence, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to explore your right to recovery.