Neuropathy "The Painful Enigma"

The most common causes of TBI which result in ER visits include slip-and-fall accidents, blows to the head, and automobile accidents. Abrupt forces which jolt the brain violently within the skull, such as shock waves from explosions, which can also cause TBI. Traumatic brain injury can also result from bullet wounds or other injuries which penetrate the skull and brain.

Doctors characterize traumatic brain injury as mild, moderate, or severe depending on whether the injury causes unconsciousness, how long it lasts, and other symptoms. Although most traumatic brain injuries are characterized as mild because they’re not considered life-threatening, even a mild TBI can have serious and long-lasting effects if left untreated.  

Resulting from an impact to the head which interrupts brain function, TBI is a threat to cognitive health in two ways:  

• The effects of traumatic brain injury, which may be long-lasting or even permanent, can include unconsciousness, inability to recall the event, confusion, difficulty learning new information, trouble speaking, unsteadiness, lack of coordination, and health issues associated with vision or hearing, among other common symptoms.
• TBI may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, years after the injury takes place.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2.8 million TBI-associated ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occurred in 2013, the latest year for which information is available. The purpose of the following article is to discuss traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its connection with Alzheimer’s disease and other health issues.  

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of disability and death in people. About 1.6 million individuals suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year. TBI can cause a process of injury which may ultimately cause a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and other health issues. Many of the neurodegenerative diseases following TBI include health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis which result in these type of neurodegenerative diseases, however, are still completely misunderstood. Where many of the health issues following TBI have a high incidence, there are currently only several treatment approaches which can help prevent the pathological development of chronic neurological diseases.

An understanding of the mechanisms underlying TBI and neurodegenerative diseases is fundamental to determine the possible connection between these health issues, to allow the safe and effective diagnosis and treatment. In the following article, we discuss the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and how they’re associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of disability and death among the general population, especially in young adults. Additionally, TBI is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is essential for patients and healthcare professionals to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of traumatic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases to diagnose factors which may ultimately cause neurodegeneration associated with TBI as well as determine possible treatment approaches.

Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutamatergic excitotoxicity have previously been associated with TBI and neurodegenerative diseases. As a matter of fact, oxidative stress is believed to be an essential pathological mechanism which connects TBI to neurodegenerative diseases. Research studies have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species and their subsequent byproducts may play a role as novel fluid markers for the identification and monitoring of cellular damage. These reactive oxygen species can also serve as a suitable treatment approach to ultimately help reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and promote quality of life for people suffering from TBI and other health issues.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of disability and death in people. About 1.6 million individuals suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year. TBI can cause a process of injury which may ultimately cause a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and other health issues. Many of the neurodegenerative diseases following TBI include health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis which result in these type of neurodegenerative diseases, however, are still completely misunderstood. Where many of the health issues following TBI have a high incidence, there are currently only several treatment approaches which can help prevent the pathological development of chronic neurological diseases.

A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying TBI and neurodegenerative diseases is ultimately fundamental to determine the possible connection between these health issues to allow safe and effective diagnosis and treatment. In part 1 of the following article, we will discuss the pathological mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and how it’s associated with the development of a variety of neurological diseases and other health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD).