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Mild blast forces cause brain pathology and deficits, despite lack of macroscopic damage November 9, As many as , United States service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since have suffered traumatic brain injury due to explosions. Radiosurgery can also lead to tissue damage that results in about 1 in 20 patients requiring a second operation to remove the damaged tissue. My daughter's fiance had a severe car accident 10 years ago suffered TBI but now he says he drinks 3 to 4 beers a day which helps it's better than taking oxycodone or any pain medications is this true or is he just trying to drink and use that as an excuse. Your Brain at Work: What can I do to help feel better after a traumatic brain injury?
Control mice spent much more time exploring the new object compared with the familiar one. In both tests, control mice showed good recognition memory. In contrast, male DISC1 mice exposed to THC showed deficient recognition memory as they explored the previously blocked arm of the Y maze and the new object as much as they examined the familiar arms and objects. The researchers say this indicates poorer recognition memory in the DISC1 mice exposed to marijuana. To find out what particular brain cells might be more responsible for mediating damage from THC, the researchers then genetically engineered their mice so that the mutant DISC1 was turned on only in neurons that send electrical responses and encode memory, or only in astrocytes, the "helper" brain cells that provide support and protection to the neurons.
They then exposed both groups of mice to THC in their adolescence as before three weeks straight, then off for three weeks and again performed the same tests for recognition memory. They found that only when the mutant DISC1 was turned on in astrocytes did the mice have cognitive problems.
To see if tamping down brain inflammation could prevent the memory problems in the DISC1 mutant mice exposed to THC, the researchers used an anti-inflammatory medication. When the mice were older and tested, they didn't have memory problems in the cognitive tests, Pletnikov says.
Kamiya adds that being able to identify those who are susceptible and preventing them from partaking in marijuana use is another option for protecting teens' memory. As for future work , Pletnikov's and Kamiya's laboratories are collaborating to expand these studies with other animal models to determine how various genetic vulnerabilities may play a role in marijuana's effects on the developing brain. Researchers link two biological risk factors for schizophrenia. Yan Jouroukhin et al. Please sign in to add a comment.
Registration is free, and takes less than a minute. Researchers link two biological risk factors for schizophrenia July 17, Medical Xpress -- Johns Hopkins researchers say they have discovered a cause-and-effect relationship between two well-established biological risk factors for schizophrenia previously believed to be independent of one another. Nerve-signaling protein regulates gene associated with schizophrenia January 6, Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, have identified a protein that regulates a gene associated with schizophrenia. A new mechanism for neurodegeneration in a form of dementia May 8, A new study in Biological Psychiatry reports that dementia-related and psychiatric-related proteins cluster together to form aggregates in the brain, leading to abnormal cell function and behavior.
Aggregation of the protein Scientists discover molecular link between psychiatric disorders and type 2 diabetes February 5, There may be a genetic connection between some mental health disorders and type 2 diabetes.
New stem cell research reveals a critical culprit December 18, New research on remyelination, the spontaneous regeneration of the brain's fatty insulator that keeps neurons communicating, could lead to a novel approach to developing treatments for multiple sclerosis MS and other inflammatory Gene variant found in brain complicit in MS onset December 18, Multiple sclerosis MS is an autoimmune disease affecting the function of the central nervous system. Up to now, most of the genetic variants associated with the disease have been linked to changes in immune cells.
Traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a blow or other traumatic injury to the head or body. The degree of damage can depend on several factors, including the nature of the injury and the force of impact. Explosive blasts and other combat injuries.
Explosive blasts are a common cause of traumatic brain injury in active-duty military personnel. Although how the damage occurs isn't yet well-understood, many researchers believe that the pressure wave passing through the brain significantly disrupts brain function. Traumatic brain injury also results from penetrating wounds, severe blows to the head with shrapnel or debris, and falls or bodily collisions with objects following a blast.
Several complications can occur immediately or soon after a traumatic brain injury. Severe injuries increase the risk of a greater number and more-severe complications. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can result in prolonged or permanent changes in a person's state of consciousness, awareness or responsiveness.
Different states of consciousness include:. Widespread damage to the brain can result in a vegetative state. Although the person is unaware of surroundings, he or she may open his or her eyes, make sounds, respond to reflexes, or move. It's possible that a vegetative state can become permanent, but often individuals progress to a minimally conscious state.
Sometimes, any or several of these symptoms might linger for a few weeks to a few months after a traumatic brain injury. This is currently referred to as persistent post-concussive symptoms.
Brain damage is an injury that causes the destruction or deterioration of brain cells. In the U.S., every year, about million people have some. Brain damage or brain injury (BI) is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors.
When a combination of these symptoms last for an extended period of time, this is generally referred to as post-concussion syndrome. Traumatic brain injuries at the base of the skull can cause nerve damage to the nerves that emerge directly from the brain cranial nerves. Cranial nerve damage may result in:. Many people who have had a significant brain injury will experience changes in their thinking cognitive skills.
It may be more difficult to focus and take longer to process your thoughts. Traumatic brain injury can result in problems with many skills, including:. Language and communications problems are common following traumatic brain injuries. These problems can cause frustration, conflict and misunderstanding for people with a traumatic brain injury, as well as family members, friends and care providers.
Research suggests that repeated or severe traumatic brain injuries might increase the risk of degenerative brain diseases. But, this risk can't be predicted for an individual — and researchers are still investigating if, why and how traumatic brain injuries might be related to degenerative brain diseases. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced.
See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. Just four months after being in a coma, Mike Short was crawling through tunnels, jumping over fiery logs, and scaling walls as part of a 5K race known as a "rugged maniac. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Racing Ahead to a New Career After a Brain Injury Just four months after being in a coma, Mike Short was crawling through tunnels, jumping over fiery logs, and scaling walls as part of a 5K race known as a "rugged maniac.
References Traumatic brain injury: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Traumatic brain injury TBI. Goldman L, et al. Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.