Delaware’s Injury & Medical Malpractice Leaders

brain injuries could lead to an earlier diagnosis of dementia

On Behalf of | Mar 7, 2018 | Brain Injuries

More information, studies and news stories continue to surface regarding the long-term damage concussions can have on the brain. Prior to recent years, physicians believed that the brain could heal from some traumatic brain injuries without any long-term consequences for patients, but studies now indicate otherwise. Delaware readers may be interested in the results of a recent study about possible long-term effects on patients who have had some sort of traumatic brain injury.

A study reviewed 2,100 different cases of people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury. To be eligible to be a part of the study, the person also had to have lost consciousness for a minimum of five minutes. After a review of the cases, it concluded that people who had suffered a prior injury were likely to be diagnosed with dementia years earlier than those who had not suffered a brain injury.

In this particular study, scientists believe that people with a prior brain injury could be diagnosed with dementia as early as 2 1/2 years sooner than those with no injury. Researchers do not understand how it happens, but some speculate the initial inflammation of the injury may lay the groundwork for later brain disease. Other studies have not shown a link between brain injuries and dementia, and others have shown that injured persons could show dementia as early as nine years before those that have not suffered injuries.

Anytime traumatic brain injuries may have resulted due to the negligence of another, legal recourse in civil court may be possible. As this study indicates, the consequences of a brain injury could last many years past the initial necessary medical or therapeutic treatment. A Delaware attorney can help a family or injured individual quantify their potential financial loss over a lifetime and advise for an amount of compensation to request in an effort to cover past and future medical expenses.

Source: sciencedaily.com, “brain injury may boost risk of Alzheimer’s earlier in life“, March 1, 2018

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