Research Compares Single vs. Repeated Traumatic Brain Injury

Research Compares Single vs. Repeated Traumatic Brain Injury

Recently, a team of medical researchers published a study comparing single vs. repeated traumatic brain injury. The goal of the research was to see whether or not a single blow to the head can have the same effect as repeated blows to the head. Over the past few years, this issue has received a lot of attention. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE, has made its way into the spotlight, particularly as it relates to the National Football League (NFL). Those who have developed CTE have developed depression, aggressive behavior, and even suicidal ideation.

The goal of the research study was to see whether or not evidence consistent with CTE can show up following even a single blow to the head. The results of the study have significant implications regarding the diagnosis and treatment of TBIs moving forward.

The Targeted Biomarkers in the Study

The results of repeated traumatic brain injury and its relationship to diseases such as CTE have been studied extensively by medical researchers. Even though more information is still being uncovered, individuals who have been diagnosed with CTE have elevations of a specific biomarker called tau protein. Unfortunately, this protein is only able to be measured after the individual has died.

Much of the research surrounding CTE has targeted ways to detect this tau protein while the person is still alive. If doctors are able to detect elevated levels of tau protein while the individual is still alive, he or she might be able to receive treatment that may make a difference in that person’s overall quality of life. This treatment might be able to slow the development of mental health conditions such as depression, dementia, and suicidal thoughts.

The Research Study: Single vs. Repeated Traumatic Brain Injury

Scientists who have been working with the tau protein have found out that the molecule emits a specific type of radiation that medical sensors are able to pick up. This represents a novel breakthrough because, until this discovery was uncovered, tau protein was only able to be measured in the brain after the individual had passed away. The ability to measure tau protein in living individuals proved crucial in this study.

The medical researchers looked for tau protein accumulation in more than 20 patients who were still alive. Unlike individuals with CTE, these individuals had only been diagnosed with a single TBI. These individuals had been diagnosed with a head injury following an auto accident, physical assault, or slip and fall accident. In many cases, these individuals injuries happened many years in the past.

The Results of the Research Study

When the researchers took a look at the individuals’ brains, they found that some of them did indeed have tau protein accumulation. Specifically:

• One-third of the TBI patients had markedly elevated levels of tau protein when compared to the healthy control group
• One-third of the TBI patients had mildly elevated tau protein levels when compared to the healthy control group
• The final third of TBI patients did not show elevated tau protein levels

These results are significant because tau protein is present in individuals who have been diagnosed with both single and repeated traumatic brain injury. These results will have important implications for both patients and medical professionals moving forward.

Implications for the Future

The tau protein accumulation is the same type of protein found in individuals with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, the researchers noted that on brain scans the tau protein is building up in different parts of the brain in TBI patients versus individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This is significant because the medical community still needs to figure out the implications of this change in tau protein location.

Furthermore, future studies also need to find ways to target this tau protein for treatment. If medical treatments can both detect and degrade tau protein, the onset of dementia might be slowed or prevented altogether. This can make a tremendous difference in someone’s overall quality of life.

San Francisco Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a San Francisco traumatic brain injury lawyer. Clearly, both single and repeated traumatic brain injuries are serious. If someone you know has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence of another person or entity, please call me today at (415) 805-7284 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.