Category Archives: Research Studies
Brain Injury, Depression & Microglia
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) estimates that 14.8 American adults are affected by a major depressive disorder in any given year; that’s about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population of individuals over the age of 18. Despite the overwhelming statistics, depression is a complicated disease. It affects individuals of all ages and can occur at any time and for any reason; depression is much more than just “being sad.” A recent study suggests that depression may occur when the microglia in the brain changes. The best way to describe microglia is simply as the “brain’s immune cells”. Microglia makes up 10% of all cells within the brain and …
The Severe Risk of Sports-Related Brain Injuries
The Consequences of Head Injuries in Sports Certain sports leave players very vulnerable to Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). These are defined as “a blow or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain,” and are very common particularly in football, boxing and cycling. In 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated there to have occurred 446,788 sports-related brain injuries in the US, which represented an increase from the year before. The real numbers may be even higher, since many people unfortunately do not go to the hospital following a head injury. Surprisingly, cycling is responsible for the highest proportion of sports-related …
Study Examines Age and Brain Injury Risks of Children
A recently reported study may help parents and others to protect their children from head and brain injuries. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine, University of California-Davis School of Medicine and others conducted the study, “Epidemiology of Blunt Head Trauma in Children in U.S. Emergency Departments.” The researchers reported their findings in the November 2014 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study examined 43,399 cases of blunt head trauma among children through 17. Based on their findings, the researchers were able to delineate by age what type of accidents were most likely to serve as the cause a child’s head injury. Overall, falls proved to …
Despite Hardhats, Traumatic Brain Injuries Still Common on Construction Sites
Although hardhats are a fixture in construction work and are intended to keep construction workers safe, they do not always prevent accidents that lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI) on construction sites. TBIs occur when a bump or blow to the head, or a penetrating head injury, causes an injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. A TBI can be mild or severe, with concussions being the most common TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These injuries may resolve over time – or they may affect an injured person for the rest of his or her life. While hardhats provide the best hope of …
Traumatic Brain Injuries Lead to Death and Disability
The suicides of famous NFL players such as Junior Seau and Dave Duerson after years of coping with concussion damage caused by ferocious hits on the football field generate most of the headlines concerning traumatic brain injuries. But the fact is that all Americans, no matter their age, are susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, and such injuries are more common than you might suspect. Traumatic brain injuries contribute to 30 percent of all injury deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 138 Americans die each day from injuries that include TBIs. Bumps, blows or jolts to the head as well as penetrating head injuries that disrupt …
Car Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injury
With football-caused concussions and brain disease grabbing so much attention, it’s easy to forget that sports are a relatively uncommon source of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, among the general population. In fact, motor vehicle accidents and falls are responsible for most TBIs suffered by Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2 million Americans per year experience TBI, with 14.3% caused by traffic accidents and 40.5% caused by falls. That means some 286,000 TBIs result from car crashes annually. The actual number may be much higher, because brain injuries aren’t always immediately obvious after an accident. Indeed, TBI is commonly referred to as a “silent” epidemic …
Study of Combat Veterans Finds Link Between TBI and Dementia
A newly published medical study involving more than 100,000 military veterans provides evidence of a positive link between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and developing dementia later in life. The findings suggest that civilians who experience a brain injury would also be at greater risk of developing brain injury. “TBI in older veterans was associated with a 60 percent increase in the risk of developing dementia,” researchers wrote in a study published by Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and reported by Tech Times and other publications. “Our results suggest that TBI in older veterans may predispose them toward development of symptomatic dementia and raise concern about …
Are NFL’s Concussion and Domestic Violence Problems Linked?
Several articles have come out in early September examining whether there may be a connection between two problems currently plaguing the National Football League: Concussions and domestic violence. Concussions are a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They have been a major problem in the NFL – and all levels of the sport – for many years. In 2013 alone, 228 concussions were diagnosed among NFL players, according to the league’s annual Health & Safety Report. The problem has recently received heightened attention due to research indicating a link between repeated concussions and brain disease such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Additionally, the NFL is now facing a class-action …
Back to College Means Back to Accidents
As parents say goodbye to their children heading back to college, or area residents welcome students back to schools, our thoughts turn to college students and the cars they drive. More specifically, there is reason to be concerned about the increase in car accidents and traumatic brain injury (TBI) when college students return to school. About 70 percent of college-age students own or have access to cars, according to College Parents of America. In addition to increased congestion in areas around college campuses once fall semester begins, there is typically an increase in accidents, including accidents that can cause TBI. “For many students, the first year of college is a …
Prevention and Treatment of Brain Injuries in Babies and Toddlers
Children are society’s most vulnerable population, so stories of a baby or toddler being injured naturally trigger strong emotions. When a child suffers a brain injury, those emotions often go into overdrive because, unlike other types of injuries, those impacting the brain can lead to developmental impairment, lifelong challenges, and even death. Sadly, brain injuries among young children are not entirely uncommon. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2001 and 2010, children aged 0-4 had the highest rates of brain injury resulting in a hospital emergency room visit. So, what is being done to prevent and mitigate brain injuries in very young children? …