Clinical Trials Of Progesterone For Traumatic Brain Injury Moving Forward
Progesterone is a hormone that has been shown to have a rapid, neuroprotective effect after TBI. This effect has been strong during pre-clinical, phase I, and phase II trials, and is now in the process of both a national and an international phase III clinical trial, bringing it closer to FDA approval for clinical use.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Not Just Football Players, But Soldiers Too.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative syndrome that can develop from repeated impacts to the brain. CTE has been studied in sports such as football and boxing, where athletes develop a long-term pattern of symptoms that are not unlike those of Alzheimer’s syndrome. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a common diagnosis in our
A New iphone App Determines Concussion In Student Athletes
Student athletes do not usually have the benefit of formal on-site evaluation for concussion. However, student athletes still need to follow removal and return-to-sport guidelines in order to support recovery and prevent further damage. Researchers recently developed an iPhone app called The Concussion Test, which is available for no charge ancussiot iTunes. The Con Test
Decompressive Craniectomy in Children With TBI
Decompressive craniectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part of the skull to allow room for brain swelling after injury. Not long ago, researchers found that this surgery, although commonly performed, did not actually improve outcome in traumatic brain injury patients. However, that study did not specifically look at the outcomes of decompressive craniectomy in
Perinatal Brain Injury: Predicting Outcomes
Neonatal encephalopathy, or disturbed neurological functioning in a term infant, affects between 1 and 7 babies out of 1000 live births. It causes permanent disability in terms of cognitive and motor development in 15-20% of affected newborns. An MRI scan can help predict outcomes for infants with brain injury, with increasing levels of accuracy. A
Autonomy vs. Agency: Participation In Life Activities For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
Autonomy, a person’s capacity to judge, decide, and act on the basis of their own attitudes and reasoning, is a key concept in the treatment of people with spinal cord injury. Autonomy is generally held to be a fundamental patient right. However, little study has been done about patients’ own individual ideas or experience of
Rehabilitation of Executive Function After Traumatic Brain Injury
Organization, attention, and strategic planning are frequently problematic after traumatic brain injury. These issues reflect failures of executive function, a set of processes necessary for goal-directed behavior. Lack of executive control can complicate the recovery process for people with a traumatic brain injury; therefore, executive function should be specifically targeted for rehabilitation. A recent study
Speech Disturbance After Emerging From Minimally Conscious State
With improvements in medicine, more patients survive severe traumatic brain injuries, even in cases where the brain injury led to a minimally conscious or vegetative state. An increase in survival means that there is a chance that the brain injury patient can emerge from unconsciousness. Subsequently, this has led to an increase in opportunities to
Like? Facebook Use After Traumatic Brain Injury
Online communities and social networking sites can be valuable to those with cognitive or social difficulties caused by traumatic brain injury. Virtual support systems can increase social participation and reduce isolation. Recent research shows that expressive online journaling appears to enhance quality of life and feelings of well-being for TBI patients. So, do people with
Life After Acquired Brain Injury: How ABI In Children Affects Participation
Participation is defined as “involvement in a life situation.” Through this participation, children and adolescents acquire skills and competencies, and achieve physical and mental health. To increase understanding of how participation and recovery trajectories are linked in youth with acquired brain injury, researchers have recently examined available tools for measuring participation outcomes. The study found
