Early Onset Dementia Associated with a Traumatic Brain Injury — Numerous advances have been made in the medical field over the past few decades. A lot of this research has been into the structure and function of the brain. It is no secret that people are living longer than ever before. While this is nice, this also means that diseases of aging are becoming more common than in prior years. One example is dementia, with the most common form being Alzheimer’s. Some of the statistics that have been published regarding dementia in the United States from Brain Test include:
- About five million people are currently living with some form of dementia.
- With the population growing and life expectancy rising with it, these numbers are going to go up.
- About one out of every six women will develop some form of dementia.
- Close to one out of every ten men will also develop dementia.
- About three-quarters of all cases of dementia are Alzheimer’s.
Even though Alzheimer’s is chiefly a disease of aging, certain risk factors can increase someone’s chances of developing dementia. One example is a traumatic brain injury, which people can sustain in any number of different ways.
Mechanisms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are more common than most people realize. Some of the different ways people could sustain a traumatic brain injury include:
- Slipping on a wet floor or an icy sidewalk and striking the back of their head on the ground.
- Playing sports, such as football and soccer, and even in cases of assault.
- Striking their head on the steering wheel or dashboard in a car accident.
Traumatic brain injuries are emergencies and should be treated as such; however, the complications of a brain injury may not show up for years down the road. Such is the case with dementia.
Leading to Dementia
When people sustain a brain injury, they sustain damage to the soft tissue of the brain itself. Like other cells in the body, the neurons are prone to injury. Unfortunately, when the neurons die, they do not regenerate, unlike other areas of the body. When the brain starts to lose its neurons, particularly in the frontal lobe, the symptoms of brain damage could begin to manifest itself. Those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury could lose their neurons at a faster rate as a result of the accident. There are many different types of dementia and, when these neurons die, these various forms could start to show up.
Signs and Symptoms of Dementia
There are many different types of dementia, and the signs and symptoms will vary depending on the location of the neuronal death in the brain. Common forms of dementia include Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Some of the signs and symptoms that people should watch for include:
- Difficulty with memory, such as recognizing faces, remembering dates, and issues with directions.
- Difficulty sleeping at night.
- Bowel and bladder incontinence.
- A loss of inhibition, manifested by saying or doing inappropriate things at inappropriate times.
- Trouble with activities of daily living, such as balancing a checkbook, cooking, or doing the laundry.
- Emotional lability due to frustrations with all of the above.
When a loved one is showing these signs and symptoms, it is essential to seek medical care immediately. While the progression of dementia usually cannot be reversed, it can be slowed with the right medical care. There are medications available, and new research is being done.
Assistance from a Personal Injury Attorney
When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, this impacts the entire family. Those with dementia may not be able to recognize their loved ones anymore, which could be devastating. They might forget where they are, what the year is, or what they were doing. No family should ever have to go through this tough situation alone. For this reason, it is important to meet with a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Sacramento. There are options available, so be sure to ask for help when it is needed. You and your family could be deserving of financial compensation.
Related Articles
- Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
- Risk Factors for a Traumatic Brain Injury
- Common Medications for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Sacramento Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Sacramento. Dementia is a disease that impacts the entire family. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Early Onset Dementia Associated with a Traumatic Brain Injury: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Early Onset Dementia Associated with a Traumatic Brain Injury.
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