Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can change lives forever. That’s because the brain is the central organ that organizes the body’s functions. It is also where your memories, dreams, and personality come from. So, when the brain is injured it can affect vision, mobility, memory and judgement. Worse yet, these injuries are often permanent. However, there… read more
Complete memory loss can become an unfortunate reality for sufferers of severe brain injuries. A 25-year-old professional cyclist from Broomfield, Colorado, experienced total memory loss after suffering a traumatic brain injury during a bicycle accident. While competing in a race last month, she crashed just before the finish line. Emergency workers airlifted her to the… read more
Will Smith’s new movie Concussion has helped strengthen a national debate over brain injuries and football. However, professional athletes have attracted a majority of the focus. Athletes of all ages are at risk for concussions. Depending on several factors, such as age and injury severity, concussions can cause long-lasting effects in children. Some studies have… read more
Coaches and trainers should continue to take concussions very seriously, as the consequences can have life-changing implications for young athletes. One of the worst consequences that can befall student athletes is second impact syndrome, where two concussions occur within a short period. Second impact syndrome can cause severe and lifelong disability for young athletes. The… read more
A new treatment used by doctors at ManorCare Palm Harbor in Tampa Bay, Florida, uses virtual reality displays to help patients during rehabilitation from brain injuries. The treatment, called Synchrony, has been very successful. By developing treatments around the concept known as neuroplasticity, doctors can help patients reprogram their brains to carry out basic tasks.… read more
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause a range of behavioral, emotional and cognitive symptoms that can go undetected for years. Recent research has discovered higher rates of TBIs in prisons and mental health facilities, leading some to question if there is a significant relationship. Many states perform mental health screenings in prisons, but do not… read more
For the millions of Americans who have traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), the difficulty of living with disabilities no one else can see is daunting and discouraging. TBIs are often called “invisible injuries” for this very reason. Many people with moderate to severe TBIs can suffer from symptoms for years, having difficulties with speech, memory and… read more
Researchers affiliated with the University of California Los Angeles have discovered diets rich in high-fructose corn syrup can delay recovery from brain injuries. To gather evidence for their study, researchers took two groups of rats, one with a fructose diet and another without, and simulated head trauma. Researchers then had the rats traverse through a… read more
Smartphone apps can help individuals with brain injuries carry out daily tasks with far more ease. Take for example the iOS app, Answers:YesNo, which allows people who are nonverbal to answer questions and communicate. Another app, Behavior Tracker Pro, can help therapists and caregivers graph behaviors to help assess how well those with brain injuries… read more
Brain injuries often permanently affect the lives of accident survivors. Survivors can have disabilities, such as short-term memory loss, inability to focus, loss of vision, aphasia and impaired impulse control. In addition to health problems, survivors can face social stigma, loss of career or difficulty managing finances. Many survivors with brain injuries will undergo extensive… read more
