Even one concussion can lead to long-term structural damage to the brain and long-term negative health effects. A recently reported new study points to the long-term consequences of concussion. As lawyers focused on brain injury, we have long been aware that concussions can lead to long-term problems. And the knowledge that repetitive concussions can cause long-term structural problems has become relatively common knowledge.
In this recently reported study linking concussions to long-term health consequences, the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to examine how much gray and white brain matter there was in patients with a concussion. The scans revealed measurable brain atrophy. The loss of the brain matter was found to exist a year after the patient was initially injured. In the study 19 patients with a concussion were analyzed a year after their injury. Those patients were compared with another dozen patients who had not suffered a concussion.The study was published in the journal Radiology.
As science comes to a better understanding of the impacts of concussion and brain injury, we as Idaho brain injury attorneys can do a better job of making sure clients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are properly compensated for their losses.
WebMD reports that the researcher, Dr. Yvonne Lui, who is the neuroradiology section chief and an assistant professor of radiology at NYU Langone School of Medicine stated in a news release that the “study confirms what we have long suspected, . . . . After [concussion], there is true structural injury to the brain, even though we don’t see much on routine clinical imaging.” According to the WebMD report Dr. Lui said this means that changes in brain structure may be the cause of long-term symptoms in patients who have suffered a concussion.
Having dealt with the consequences of TBI in our clients, we have become sensitized to the need of having clients evaluated for the changes that the brain injury makes in their lives. Because these injuries are often hard to show a jury, this type of research helps provide a foundation for a client who has a brain injury in an car wreck or otherwise, to explain the actual physical impacts on the injury. Our experiences with our clients have also led to Kurt Holzer working with other groups to help protect vulnerable people, like youth athletes, from the consequences of brain injury.
If following an injury incident where you even briefly lose consciousness or have altered senses and you find yourself with symptoms like headache, word finding problems, dizziness, memory loss, attention problems, depression or anxiety, you need to address the potential of a TBI. You will find the Brain injury Association of Idaho has some resources to help you.
If you have question about an injury claim and the practical realities of the law and TBI, call us. We are always happy to discuss these issues in a free consultation to make sure you make the right legal and medical decisions for you.