Traumatic Brain Injury: June 2007 Archives

The Only Cure for Head Injury is Prevention

The head injury program in Missouri is cautioning that the only cure for traumatic brain injury is to prevent it in the first place. The head injury program plans to make the message more clear to those most at risk. Currently, the numbers of hospital and emergency visits by people with traumatic brain injuries is increasing. The increase is blamed on falls in the aging population, motor vehicle accidents, and increasing violence, especially against children.

Preventing Head Injuries

Lori Brenneke, the manager of the program, says that the group plans to focus more on preventative measures against head injury. Many people who have suffered traumatic brain injury say they would have not participated in the activities that injured them had they known the potential consequences.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 01:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sergeant Succumbs to Head Injury Suffered in Iraq

Sgy. Frank Sandoval, who was severely injured by a roadside blast in Iraq, died on Monday from complications after surgery. Sandoval was 27 years old. Sandoval gained popularity when his family allowed a newspaper reporter to follow his recovery.

Frank's Fight: Sergeant Succumbs to Head Injury Suffered in Iraq

Michelle Sandoval, Sandoval's wife, said that Sandoval was kept on a ventilator so that his organs could be used for donations. "I really hope someone can use his heart," said Michelle. "An if another man can love a woman as much as he loved me, that would make me very happy."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

State Will Fund Brain Injury Research

Indiana plans to fund research to help those who have suffered from spinal cord and brain injuries. The state will begin funding spinal cord and brain injury research projects that will lead to cures and improvements for those who have suffered such injuries. State Representative Carolene Mays has worked to get the program into motion.

State to Fund Spinal Cord And Brain Injury Research

“Earlier this year, I was approached by a group of concerned citizens who wanted to make a difference for those individuals who have suffered a traumatic spinal cord or brain injury,” Mays said. “They want research to be performed here in Indiana to help some 160,000 residents who have received such injuries. As an added benefit, these projects create new research jobs right here in Indiana.” Mays added that the funding for the new research will come primarily from an increase in the motorcycle registration fee.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

VA Prepares for Young Population with TBIs

Veterans Affairs is preparing for a different set of veterans who soon will be seeking assistance. The typical veteran who comes to the six-week blind rehabilitation program at the VA hospital in West Haven is in his late 60s, 70s, or 80s. Most of these veterans suffer blindness as a result of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes. However, blindness also can be caused by traumatic brain injury.

VA Prepares for Younger Population With Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries often are caused by roadside bombings. These injuries are considered the signature wound of the Iraq and the Afghanistan wars. The majority of the soldiers who have traumatic brain injury are in treatment at one of the VA's four special polytrauma treatment centers. The VA is preparing for the expected influx of traumatic brain injury victims: “We will get these patients, but we'll get them farther along, and right now, we are not perfectly set up and ready to do that,” said Dr. Kara Gagnon, the director of low vision optometry at West Haven hospital.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Concussions Force Critical Look at the NFL

Jon Jansen, an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins, was asked about what he knew of the occurrence of concussions in National Football League players. "I've never had one diagnosed, but I don't think I've ever been smart enough to actually go in the training room when my head's been ringing. But there are some guys that when they get dinged, it really bothers them," said Jansen.

Concussions Force Hard Look Inward Around NFL

A doctor in Pittsburgh claims he has linked the fourth case of a former NFL player to brain damage from a NFL career. Researchers who are not affiliated with the NFL also say that retired players who have had more than one concussion are more likely to be diagnosed with depression.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Man Goes to Jail for Injuring Baby

Bobby Alires, a Grand Junction man, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for having caused serious bodily injury. Alires shook the baby; many people do not realize the dangers of doing such a thing. Authorities recommend that: "If you feel yourself losing control, if you think you can't handle it, if you think there's even a chance you might lash out at a child, there are resources, there is help."

Alires Goes to Jail for Injuring Baby

Many cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome go overlooked, even though a shaken baby can suffer serious bodily and mental injury. "It's a form of brain injury and the most difficult thing about Shaken Baby Syndrome is the injuries don't occur on the outside of the baby's body. They occur on the baby's brain or behind the eyes." The Department of Human Services says that the problem is increasing.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Research Suggests Ways to Slow Alzheimer's

Treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. All of these conditions are linked to heart disease. Across the world, more than 26 million people have Alzheimer's disease. The number of people with the condition is expected to quadruple by 2050.

New Research Suggests Way to Slow- or Prevent- Alzheimer's

A new prevention study tracked 891 patients with dementia for four years. Patients who were monitored for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol performed better on thinking and memory tests than those who were not monitored for these conditions. Another recent study shows that avoiding brain injury also has a protective effect because death of brain cells triggers the production of amylois-beta protein, which causes the brain-tangling plaques of Alzheimers.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Road Rage Leaves Daughter with Brain Injury

Colin Gibbs Wilson, 40, was driving at a speed of 120 km/hr in a 80 km/hr zone and had a blood alcohol level of .123 when he was involved in a road rage incident that left him, his wife, and his daughter in the hospital for five days. Wilson had been drinking bourbon and beer all night prior to driving his family home. When the Wilson's car stalled, another car honked at them. This enraged Wilson, who began weaving in and out of traffic.

Road Rage Dad Leaves Daughter with Brain Injury

Wilson drove in front of the other car in an attempt to cut it off; however, he oversteered and smashed the car into a power pole at 106 km/hr. Wilson was charged with one count of reckless conduct, three counts of negligently causing serious injury, and speeding and drunk-driving offenses. Judge Tom Wodak, who ruled in the case, said that Wilson's risky driving could have injured many more: "the type of driving in this case could have so easily resulted in a more tragic outcome."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

VA Secretary Says Veterans Screened

Virginia Secretary Jim Nicholson said that all soldiers who return from Iraq or Afghanistan are screened for brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder. The initiative has been in place for about 90 days and was created to better suit the needs of veterans, said Nicholson. "Whether they come to us with a toothache or a sore knee, we screen them for any form of brain injury, and we are now screening every one of them for post-traumatic stress disorder," said Nicholson.

VA Secretary Says Veterans Screened for Brain injuries, PTSD

Nicholson the screening process involves VA clinicians talking to veterans and giving them further testing if they have symptoms of brain injury. Nicholson added that previous research has focused on traumatic brain injury as opposed to mild brain injury, and this may account for many of the brain injuries soldiers have upon their return home.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Injury Changes Young Sailor's Life

Ken Williams was racing his sailboat when he hit another boat at approximately 27 kmh. His left temple struck the side of his boat, but Ken finished the race and said that he was fine. However, after a week, Ken's condition had deteriorated to the point that Ken was unable to do much of anything. Prior to the accident, Ken was well-respected in his field and walked about 40 km a week and spent about ten hours a week at the gym. After the accident, Ken struggled even to make it to his mailbox.

Head Injury Changed Young Sailor's Life

After a failed attempt to return to his job, Ken moved closer to his parents. Ken said that he was initially angry but has come to terms with his injury: "Gradually you get to the point that you know you need to move on but you don't want to because you want to be that superman. I can't say I'm any less happy than I was before. I'm happy, I just have limitations and try to work around them."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How Stroke of Head Injury Increases Alzheimer's Risk

Researchers from the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorgers have found that the death of brain cells caused by a stroke or a head injury can result in the production of amyloid-beta protein. Amyloid-beta protein in the main component of the plaques seen in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. "We have discovered how a stroke can trigger a series of biochemical events that increase amyloid-beta production in the brain. These findings raise the prospect of novel therapies that could interfere with this process and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in stroke or head trauma patients," says Giuseppina Tesco, MD, PhD.

How Stroke of Head Injury Can Increase Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Although it has been known for years that strokes and head injuries raise the risk of Alzheimer's disease, the reason for the increased risk was not known. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by plaques of amyloid-beta protein forming in the brain; these plaques are toxic to brain cells.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Woodruff Speaks about Stigma of Brain Injuries

Bob Woodruff says he did not know the meaning of the term "traumatic brain injury" until he had one. Woodruff was covering news in Iraq when an improvised bomb exploded 20 feet from him television crew. When he awoke after a 36-day medically induced coma, his speech barely made sense.

ABC Newsman Speaks in Colonie of the Stigma of Brain Injuries

Part of Woodruff's skull had to be removed to allow his brain to swell. Woodruff shows few outward signs of his injury, but says he struggles to remember friends' names, words, and city names from where he is reporting. Woodruff has drawn considerable attention to traumatic brain injury. ABC aired a documentary about Woodruff's recovery and his subsequent efforts to draw attention to the struggles faced by Iraq veterans with brain injuries. "In the beginning I heard that recovery is usually one-and-half-years to two years and then it's pretty much over," Woodruff said about his recovery. "That's a bunch of bull ..."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Study Links Concussions to Depression

A recent study indicates that the rate of clinically diagnosed depression in retired National Football League players is strongly correlated with the number of concussions they have suffered. The study was conducted by the University of North Carolina's Center for the Study of Retired Athletes and looked that a general health survey of 2,552 retired NFL players. The conclusions drawn by the study contrast the NFL's belief that concussions suffered in football have no long-term effects.

NFL: Survey Links Concussions to Depressions

The study is the most comprehensive to date and was published in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Of 595 players who reported having three or more concussions on the field, 20.2 percent were later found to have symptoms of depression. This is three times the rate of players who had not suffered concussions. The report concludes that the data "call into question how effectively retired professional football players with a history of three or more concussions are able to meet the mental and physical demands of life after playing professional football."

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NFL Veterans Ask for Help with Dementia

Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFL players' union, was shocked when he first saw how many retired NFL players sought financial aid for treatment of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. "I played with or against quite a few of these guys," he said. "I knew one or two were having problems, but I never knew the extent."

NFL Veterans Seek Help for Dementia

Upshaw was a Hall of Fame guard for the Oakland Raiders from 1968-1982. He is one of four people being honored by the Alzheimer's Association of New York for helping begin the "88" plan. The "88" plan gives up to $88,000 from the NFL and the union to help pay for treatment of former NFL players suffering from dementia or related brain problems. The program began in February and 35 retired players already have been accepted for aid.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Boy Awarded $80,000 for Injury

Usiel Perez suffered a brain injury in 2003 after a car crash. He still suffers from headaches related to the accident. A jury decided that the boy should be awarded $80,275 for his suffering. Perez has just finished sixth grade at Wea Ridge Middle School in Indiana.

Lafayette Boy Awarded $80,000 for 2003 Injury

Perez was riding in a car when a vehicle driven by Jared C. Young, 20, of Rossville turned into its path. While Young admitted he was at fault in the accident, he says the damages are excessive. However, Perez's lawyer had asked for over $1 million in damages because Perez may suffer headaches related to the accident for the rest of his life. Perez says he gets headaches that can be brought about by exposure to bright light, loud noises, and strenuous exercise. However, Young's lawyer made note of the fact that Perez gets decent grades in physical education and participates in the school band.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Parkinson's Linked to Pesticides, Head Trauma

Parkinson's disease is more common in those who are exposed to pesticides and have suffered from head injuries, say European researchers. Furthermore, as exposure to brain injuries increases, the chances of illness also increase. Dr. Finlay Dick, from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Aberdeen University Medical School, says that "those who were heavily exposed to pesticides had a 41 percent increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, and those with lower exposure had a 13 percent increased risk."

Parkinson's Linked to Pesticides, Head Trauma

Those who are knocked unconscious only one time have a 35 percent increased risk of developing Parkinson's. Observationally, the findings make sense: many boxers, including Muhammad Ali, suffer from Parkinson's disease. 1.5 million Americans currently suffer from Parkinson's.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brain Protection With Progesterone

Traumatic brain injury has become the signature wound of the war in Iraq. The trend is troubling, especially since many doctors don't think adequate treatments for brain injury exist. However, doctors at Emory University think that they may have made a major step in the treatment of brain injury; high doses of the pregnancy drug progesterone show promise as treatment.

Protecting the Brain with Progesterone

In a preliminary study of 100 patients, doctors gave brain injured patients high intravenous doses of progesterone within 12 hours of their injury. Those who were given the hormone had a 57 percent less chance of dying. The study's lead author, Dr. David Wright, says that the study "gives hope where there has been no hope before." Researchers believe that progesterone may offer protection to the brain during pregnancy.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 08:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did Accused Clinic Bomber Have a Brain Injury?

Paul Ross Evans is accused of having placed a homemade pipe bomb outside the Austin Women's Health Center. Evans' friend, Karen Slafter, says that she does not understand Evans' actions. She had worn a "Pro Choice" button to work earlier in the month and had discussed the issue with Evans. Slafter believes that Evans' decision to place the homemade bomb outside the clinic was influenced by a brain disorder.

Friend: Accused Clinic Bomber Had Head Injury

Slafter says that Evans' brain injury influences his reasoning and his social functioning. A 2006 news report also quotes Evans as saying he had a history of unexplained evil thoughts. Evans' lawyer, Assistant Federal Public Defender Horatio Alderedge, could not be reached for comment.

Posted by Patricia Bowling at 08:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

June 29, 2007

The Only Cure for Head Injury is Prevention

June 28, 2007

Sergeant Succumbs to Head Injury Suffered in Iraq

June 27, 2007

State Will Fund Brain Injury Research

June 26, 2007

VA Prepares for Young Population with TBIs

June 25, 2007

Concussions Force Critical Look at the NFL

June 22, 2007

Man Goes to Jail for Injuring Baby

June 21, 2007

New Research Suggests Ways to Slow Alzheimer's

June 20, 2007

Road Rage Leaves Daughter with Brain Injury

June 19, 2007

VA Secretary Says Veterans Screened

June 18, 2007

Brain Injury Changes Young Sailor's Life

June 12, 2007

How Stroke of Head Injury Increases Alzheimer's Risk

June 11, 2007

Woodruff Speaks about Stigma of Brain Injuries

June 08, 2007

Study Links Concussions to Depression

June 07, 2007

NFL Veterans Ask for Help with Dementia

June 06, 2007

Boy Awarded $80,000 for Injury

June 05, 2007

Parkinson's Linked to Pesticides, Head Trauma

June 04, 2007

Brain Protection With Progesterone

June 01, 2007

Did Accused Clinic Bomber Have a Brain Injury?