Traumatic Brain Injury

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or ...

Neuroscience created May 18, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Repeat brain injury raises soldiers' suicide risk, study shows

People in the military who suffer more than one mild traumatic brain injury face a significantly higher risk of suicide, according to research by the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah.

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Brain ultrasound improves mood

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques aimed at mental and neurological conditions include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, and transcranial direct current (electrical) stimulation ...

Neuroscience created May 16, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain

By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into ...

Neuroscience created May 09, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

After brain injury, new astrocytes play unexpected role in healing

The production of a certain kind of brain cell that had been considered an impediment to healing may actually be needed to staunch bleeding and promote repair after a stroke or head trauma, researchers at ...

Medical research created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Imaging technique could help traumatic brain injury patients: Mapping technology used to predict long-term effects

(Medical Xpress)—A new application of an existing medical imaging technology could help predict long-term damage in patients with traumatic brain injury, according to a recent UC San Francisco study.

Neuroscience created May 09, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study finds increase in fall-related traumatic brain injuries among elderly men and women

"Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of hospitalization, disability, and death-worldwide, and among older adults, falling is the most common cause of TBI," writes Niina Korhonen, B.M., of the Injury and Osteoporosis ...

Health created May 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Young vets with PTSD receive more CT scans

(HealthDay)—Computed tomography (CT) scans are significantly more commonly used in young veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to young veterans without PTSD, according to research ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created May 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sex lives often an overlooked casualty of traumatic brain injury

(HealthDay)—For the more than 3 million Americans living with traumatic brain injury, there is often an unspoken problem: Many suffer from sexual dysfunction, something that is easily overlooked as patients ...

Neuroscience created Apr 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Traumatic brain injury poses complex diagnostic, management and treatment challenges in older people

Each year more than 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The incidence of TBI in older adults poses special diagnostic, management and treatment challenges, say experts in a special ...

Neuroscience created May 06, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Healing hormone provides hope for brain injury

If Don Stein were the kind of man who listened to what others said, he would have shut down his lab years ago. The Emory neuroscientist spent more than two decades investigating progesterone as a treatment ...

Medical research created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Mild blast injury causes molecular changes in brain akin to Alzheimer, team says

A multicenter study led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shows that mild traumatic brain injury after blast exposure produces inflammation, oxidative stress and gene activation patterns akin ...

Neuroscience created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Neurosurgical injuries sustained during the April 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama

Neurosurgeons from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medical Center recount their experiences in treating patients with head and spine injuries during the epic April 2011 tornado disaster. The authors focus on ...

Surgery created Apr 23, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Nearly half of veterans found with blast concussions might have hormone deficiencies

Up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. New research suggests that nearly half these veterans may have a problem so under-recognized that even military ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism (closed or penetrating head injury), or other features (e.g., occurring in a specific location or over a widespread area). Head injury usually refers to TBI, but is a broader category because it can involve damage to structures other than the brain, such as the scalp and skull.

TBI is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in children and young adults. Causes include falls, vehicle accidents, and violence. Prevention measures include use of technology to protect those suffering from automobile accidents, such as seat belts and sports or motorcycle helmets, as well as efforts to reduce the number of automobile accidents, such as safety education programs and enforcement of traffic laws.

Brain trauma can be caused by a direct impact or by acceleration alone. In addition to the damage caused at the moment of injury, brain trauma causes secondary injury, a variety of events that take place in the minutes and days following the injury. These processes, which include alterations in cerebral blood flow and the pressure within the skull, contribute substantially to the damage from the initial injury.

TBI can cause a host of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral effects, and outcome can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. The 20th century saw critical developments in diagnosis and treatment that decreased death rates and improved outcome. These include imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Depending on the injury, treatment required may be minimal or may include interventions such as medications and emergency surgery. Physical therapy, speech therapy, recreation therapy, and occupational therapy may be employed for rehabilitation.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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