A single mild blast exposure can cause brain injuries with similarities to Alzheimer's disease

A new study published in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reports that even a single mild explosion can cause changes in the brain that have similarities to those found in diseases like Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Flying debris or getting thrown against other objects are not the only things that make explosions so dangerous. The primary shock waves that emanate from explosions also can kill a person if they are intense enough. However, most blast survivors experience less powerful shock waves that cause less severe immediate symptoms, such as temporary disorientation or headaches, but on the surface leave victims apparently unscathed. Scientists are especially concerned when these mild blast exposures happen repeatedly—likening them to the repetitive hits endured by boxers and other athletes.

"Some of the big questions in mild are about a molecule called tau" said Dr. David Cook of VA Puget Sound Health Care System and University of Washington. "In many , tau gets chemically modified to create something called 'phospho-tau'. Phospho-tau is important because it is the starting building block of '', which can build up over time and damage brain cells."

The Seattle team used a rodent laboratory model to study brain changes caused by mild blast exposure. Dr. Cook noted, "We were a bit surprised to find that after only a single mild blast, phospho-tau remained elevated for at least a month."

"Tau pathology is part of end-stage TBI," said Dr. Iboja Cernak of the University of Alberta, Canada and a co-author on this report, "so, it is very interesting to discover that persistent phospho-tau increases also appear to be part of earlier phases of blast-induced neurotrauma".

These new findings raise the possibility that early-intervention with tau-based treatments may someday prove valuable in treating blast-induced neurotrauma.

More information: The article is entitled, "Blast exposure causes early and persistent aberrant phospho- and cleaved tau expression in a murine model of mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury," Journal of Alzheimer's Disease: (2013) 309-323.

Journal information: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Provided by IOS Press
Citation: A single mild blast exposure can cause brain injuries with similarities to Alzheimer's disease (2013, September 24) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-09-mild-blast-exposure-brain-injuries.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Fluorescent compounds allow clinicians to visualize Alzheimer's disease as it progresses

 shares

Feedback to editors