brain injury’
Trials Will Probe if Female Sex Hormones Can Help Treat Brain Injury
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Clinical trials into the effect of female sex hormone progesterone on brain injury continue. In the UK, researchers have just begun trials to see whether the hormone can help speed up recovery after a traumatic brain injury. Initial trials in the United States have already yielded promising results.
At least one trial in the United States found that the death rate after a brain injury was 30% among patients who were given a placebo after the injury. However, in persons who were administered the female progesterone hormones, the death rate was about 13%.
Several such trials are being conducted across the...
Brain Injury Increases Risk of Violent Criminal Activity
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Persons who have suffered even a moderate a brain injury can expect long-term health consequences after the injury. A new study finds that these persons may also be at a high risk of committing violent criminal crimes, compared to people who have not suffered a brain injury.
The researchers focused on persons who had suffered a traumatic brain injury and persons who had epilepsy across Sweden between 1970 and 2009. In their analysis, the researchers found that 8.8% of persons who had a traumatic brain injury were likely to also be convicted of a violent crime, like homicide and rape. ...
Researchers Find Probiotics Improve Outcomes for Patients with Brain Injury
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
A course of probiotics - microorganisms that have proven health benefits – administered to a patient with a brain injury can help improve patient outcomes. That's according to a new study conducted at the North Sichuan College Hospital in China.
Persons who suffer from a brain injury are at a high risk for inflammation because the brain releases glucocorticoids in reaction to the injury. This inflammation of the brain affects a person's ability to fight off infections after an injury.
The researchers experimented with a group of 52 patients with traumatic brain injury. These patients had suffered a severe traumatic brain...
New Techniques to Help Diagnose Vegetative State after Brain Injury
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Families of persons with a severe brain injury who are in a vegetative state, may have hope through a new device that helps establish communication with these patients. The device has been developed by researchers in the UK, who say that they have successfully used magnetic resonance imaging techniques to communicate with persons believed to be in a vegetative state.
Persons in a vegetative state may lack a sense of awareness of their environment and are believed to be unable to respond to commands and instructions. However, the researchers used a device called an EEG to communicate with some of...
Experiments with Blood Test Diagnosis Offer New Hope for Brain Injury Treatment
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic are working on developing a test to diagnose brain injury. The test will be able to detect specific amounts of a protein which is leaked after an injury. This would make detecting a brain injury much quicker, more convenient, and less expensive.
Typically, a person with a brain injury needs to undergo a computed tomography, or CT scan to diagnose the injury. These scans are not only expensive, but may also miss many of the minor signs of an injury. For instance, bleeding in the brain after an injury may not appear...
Traumatic Brain Injury Can Amplify Dementia Risk
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
A new analysis of brain injuries in veterans has found that a traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of developing dementia in the future. The study raises concerns about the increased mental health issues facing people who have suffered a brain injury.
According to the study, veterans who suffer even a mild brain injury, like a concussion had an increased risk of developing dementia. The researchers found that about 15% of people, who had suffered a brain injury, had an increased risk of developing dementia. In comparison, only 7% of people with TBI had the risk of dementia.
There have...
High-Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury among Prisoners
Monday, June 6th, 2011
As a Houston brain injury attorney, I found this report fascinating reading. The report titled Traumatic Brain Injury among Prisoners underscores the high incidence of traumatic brain injury in the prison population in the United States, and points to some possible reasons for this.
According to the report, approximately 25% to 87% of inmates in American prisons have a history of brain injury, compared to just 8% of the general non-incarcerated population. Persons seem to have a much higher risk of suffering traumatic brain injury in prison.
Most of these injuries are caused by assaults in prison. Auto...
Forum to Focus on Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011
A forum that is set to meet this week in Boston aims to boost research and treatment for traumatic brain injury. The One Mind for Research Scientific Forum is being launched by former US representative Patrick Kennedy. The launch of the forum coincides with the anniversary of Pres. John F. Kennedy's challenge to send a man to the moon by the end of the decade.
According to Kennedy, the world now needs an inspiring new initiative that will challenge researchers, scientists and the larger community to develop treatments and cures for brain injury and disease.
At the forum, scientists will present...
Jury Awards $212 Million Verdict in Botox Brain Injury Case
Friday, May 6th, 2011
A 67-year-old man, who claimed that Botox injections caused a massive brain injury that left him permanently brain-damaged, has been awarded $212 million by a Virginia jury. The man had been prescribed Botox for writer’s cramp in 2007, and suffered an autoimmune reaction. As a result, he suffered a massive brain injury that he claims has left him permanently disabled. The man is not able to care for himself or perform routine activities.
The man filed a personal injury lawsuit against the makers of Botox, Allergan, claiming that the company was aware of the side effects of the wrinkle-smoothing medication,...
Diet Can Help Treat Brain Injury
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Research commissioned by the US military has found that a diet rich in calories and proteins after a traumatic brain injury, can speed up the process of recovery.
The study was conducted by the Institute of Medicine, and involved an analysis of previous studies conducted into the use of nutrition to treat brain injury. The results have been very interesting to Houston brain injury lawyers. The researchers found from the studies that a combination of calories and proteins administered to patients within 24 hours of a traumatic brain injury can help improve the chances of survival of the...
