New report on an increased risk of repeat traumatic brain injury

March 20, 2013 (Press-News.org) New report on an increased risk of repeat traumatic brain injury

Article provided by Carty Houst
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A recent study in repeat traumatic brain injury of animal models shows that the risks of exacerbating metabolic, structural, behavioral and functional responses are the greatest when the interval between the injuries ranges from just a few hours to a few days. According to John T. Povlishock, PhD, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neurotrauma and professor at VCU Neuroscience Center, Medical College of Virginia, the risks of the increased brain damage decreases when the interval between TBIs is days or weeks.

Shorter interval presents higher risk of cerebral vulnerability

One symptom consistent with a TBI in both human and animal models is a decrease in the brain's uptake of glucose. The UCLA Brain Injury Research Center simulated multiple TBIs in animal models and measured metabolism of glucose by the brain. The premise of the tests was that when glucose metabolism levels were still decreased one day after a TBI, the brain would be more vulnerable to additional injuries during that interval. If the additional injuries occurred five days after the first injury, when glucose metabolism levels were back in the normal range, the brain would be less vulnerable.

Duration of metabolism decrease as indicator of repeat TBI

The UCLA study revealed that even a mild repeat TBI suffered while the brain is in the process of recovering from an initial head injury affects the performance of the brain, especially in children and young adults. The researchers believe that to find out how long a child remains at risk of increased TBIs, the length of time glucose levels remain low in the brain can serve as a biomarker.

Common causes of brain injuries

Brain injuries can result not only from hitting the head with a hard object or while traveling at high speeds but also from falls, sports activities, motor vehicle crashes and workplace accidents. A trauma to the neck or head will bring about swelling, tearing, bleeding or bruising to a brain. Brain injury can remain unnoticed for a long period of time.

The importance of receiving a medical evaluation

Signs of brain injury include headache, dizziness, nausea, memory loss, slower reaction and numbness. If you have a head injury and are experiencing these symptoms, you should receive a medical evaluation to check for the possibility of a TBI. Medical evaluations can help establish a course of treatment that will provide the best possible recovery, from the most suitable type of physical therapy, whether or now you are able to work and are capability of independent living. If you have had multiple TBIs, a medical evaluation is also necessary to assess the long-term impacts of your injuries and helps determine any legal compensation for which you might be qualified.

Ensuring strong legal representation

A brain injury can have an extended impact on your life. If your TBI was caused by someone else, a personal injury attorney can help connect your medical diagnosis to that accident. Based on the medical prognosis, attorneys also work with a variety of professionals such as economists and life planners to calculate the fair and just compensation for your TBI.