Seattle Injury Lawyer Blog

Boys in Washington and across the nation who participate in contact sports could be at an increased risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, later in life. A new study conducted by the Mayo Clinic found that almost one-third of men who had played contact sports as children showed signs of CTE. Meanwhile, none of the men in the study who had not played contact sports as children had CTE.

CTE is a degenerative brain disorder that can only be diagnosed posthumously, so the study relied on research that was conducted using donated brains. Researchers studied the brains of males who had played contact sports such as football, basketball, baseball, boxing, wrestling and rugby. The author of the study said that the frequency with which CTE was identified in former athletes was surprising.

The report, which was published in the December edition of Acta Neuropathological, analyzed 66 men who had played contact sports in their youth. CTE was identified in 32 percent of these men while signs of CTE were not found in any of the 198 brains from people who hadn’t played any contact sports in their youth. The leader of the research team said that CTE awareness could help to make contact sports safer.

People in Washington may want to learn about an exciting new study out of Finland that demonstrates even elderly patients may be helped by surgery following a traumatic brain injury. Historically, when elderly people suffered such an injury, nothing was done due to their age and the fact that they could die from such surgery.

Now, people are getting older and enjoying a longer life span. Researchers with the Helsinki University Hospital Department of Neurosurgery decided to study the effects of surgical treatment for people at or over the age of 75 who had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

While none of the patients who were unconscious when brought to the hospital remained alive after one year, those who were conscious and who underwent the corrective surgery recovered, according to the researchers. Those who recovered then reportedly enjoyed similar life spans as did their peers. One of the study’s authors indicated that he believes the results demonstrate that deciding against surgical intervention for TBI should not be a decision made only on the basis of age. While the study was small, the author indicated that it did demonstrate that elderly patients could potentially benefit from surgery when they have suffered a TBI.

A new discovery in medical research could help patients in Washington with traumatic brain injuries. Researchers from the University of Maryland and the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System have found a way to deliver stem cells to injured areas of the brain using a magnetic field. Although the method has only been tested on rats, researchers believe magnetic cell targeting is very promising.

Previously, medical researchers had been attempting to treat traumatic brain injuries using stem cell therapy without magnets. The problems they had using stem cell therapy on the central nervous system was that the stem cells did not always reach the injured parts of the brain, and there was a risk of intracranial hemorrhage.

Researchers are now labeling human neural progenitor cells with iron-oxide nanoparticles and using a magnetic field to guide them towards injury sites in the brain. The magnetic field allows scientists to specifically target the areas that they want the stem cells to go towards. There are still a lot of important questions that haven’t been answered in the research. Scientists do not know what will happen to the stem cells once the magnetic field is removed, and they do not know what effect stronger magnetic fields could have on the stem cells.

Washington high schools may include cheerleading as an option for extra-curricular activity. In addition to providing opportunities for developing relationships while participating in demanding physical activity, this sport may also be an excellent source of scholarship opportunities for talented individuals. However, the competitive nature of the sport may create situations in which team members are encouraged or expected to take unnecessary risks as they attempt stunts that are dangerous. These situations can result in serious injuries for those who are not comfortable or well-prepared. Brain injury is one of the most serious potential outcomes, and it is important for those participating as well as those overseeing to be aware of concussion protocol.

One of the main reasons for greater risk of serious brain injury is the fact that many routines involve the use of flyers. One flyer works with three supporting individuals, two acting as bases to support the flyer with the third supporting the two bases from behind. If any of these individuals loses focus or errs, one or all could be hurt. Dropping a flyer could result in that person suffering broken bones, bruises, or injury to the spine or head. A flyer falling on the supporting individuals could also lead to head injuries or other negative outcomes.

Cheerleaders should be their own advocate to ensure that they aren’t placed in jeopardy through the performance of a stunt with which they are uncomfortable. Additionally, it is important to speak up if an injury has occurred, especially a blow to the head. Ignoring concussion protocol could lead to more serious consequences in a future incident.

Brain injuries are a major cause of permanent disability for Washington residents. A serious brain injury may result in a person who was once fully independent requiring long-term care. Even a minor brain injury can cause cognitive problems and depression. A new research paper by researchers at University Of Maryland School Of Medicine cites inflammation as the major cause of long-term damage.

After a serious brain injury, a person is often given a specific diagnosis like chronic traumatic encelphalopathy. Researchers argue that diagnosis of a cause like inflammation, which is usually not taken seriously, may lead to better outcomes because it is a treatable condition.

After a concussion, an inflammation reaction can occur that lasts for months or years after the injury. In cases of repeated injuries, such as those sustained by football players, chronic inflammation can lead to permanent damage. Recent studies suggest that inflammation can be controlled with experimental drugs and controlled exercise programs. Researchers hope that a better understanding of how brain damage occurs will lead to better treatment after injuries. The research suggests that repeated minor injuries can lead to damage that looks very similar to the damage that occurs after moderate or severe injuries, due to inflammation. The inflammation can eventually cause brain cell death.