New studies are emerging dealing with the issue of self-identity and brain injury.  Many traumatic brain injuries result in a victim’s inability to identify people around him, or even remember things about his own self.  A small group of brain scientists is now investigating misidentification syndromes, as the delusions are called, for clues to one of most confounding problems in brain science: identity. How and where does the brain maintain the “self”?  I have watched my brain injury clients struggle with this same phenomenon, and hope studies like this one continue to increase the chances of other treatments for axonal injury and its consequences.  For the full article, click on the following link:  http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/59C8D98AA0F17D368625760C0079DE29?OpenDocument

High school football season is here.  An exciting time, to be sure, but I always get nervous this time of year because I know the athletes are getting bigger and stronger, and the hits are getting harder and harder.  Concussions and head injuries are sometimes part of football, but two players died in North Carolina last year from concussions – this issue should not be taken lightly.  I urge all players and coaches to educate themselves as to all aspects of concussions, to consult with physicians, particularly those like WakeMed, Raleigh Neurology, and Carolina Sports and Family Medicine who offer dedicated concussion clinics to quickly assess and treat those with head injuries.  I am sure those clinics also have a wealth of information regarding concussion prevention and assessment, that trainers and coaches can use in their own training and locker rooms.  To everyone associated with football, please have fun, but please be careful.  To see more information about concussion clinics like those mentioned above, please click on the following link:  http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/5832355/

For the first time, researchers are studying the brain injuries of combat veterans, using mapping techniques, hoping to better understand the intricacies of how such injuries occur and what can be done about them.  I am excited because such research will ultimately benefit my brain injury clients, who struggle on a daily basis with their condition.  The St. Louis researchers will use three types of imaging equipment to compile information that investigators hope may lead to better treatment for blast injuries and car accidents.

The grant from the government to conduct the study is $5.3 million.  For the article, please click on the following link:  http://www.slu.edu/x31438.xml

A new study out of Europe sheds light on the association between the size of Intracranial bleeding and mortality in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.  The study found, maybe not surprisingly, that the larger the size of the bleed on the brain, the higher the risk of mortality.  The study did not account for the location of the bleed and what effect that might have, and the authors also noted that further study would be needed to determine the relationship if any between the size of the intracranial bleed and functional outcomes.  Functional outcomes are the most important factor to consider when analyzing brain injury, and I have seen many instances, with my clients who are brain injured, where a large bleed occurred but thankfully near normal function was restored thanks to appropriate interventions and therapies. 

For the full article, follow the following link:  http://7thspace.com/headlines/316111/intracranial_bleeding_in_patients_with_traumatic_brain_injury_a_prognostic_study.html

A new study highlights a promising new treatment for brain injury.  It appears that repetitive Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBO) treatments, started 1 hour after traumatic brain injury can significantly reduced axonal loss and neuronal degeneration, suggesting that HBO was able to attenuate the effects of brain damage by reducing the progression of neuronal injury.  HBO is the same type of modality done for divers suffering from the bends, and is a way to force extremely high levels of oxygen into the brain and the body.  The finding of this study is important to brain injury victims because axonal injury is one of the primary causes of loss of brain function, and also historically has been one of the most difficult mechanisms of injury to treat.  Much more work needs to be done on this potential treatment.  It could drastically change the outcomes of brain injury victims for the better!

For the full article, please click on the following link:  http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-03-2009/0005070692&EDATE