Brain injuries can happen in many different circumstances. Concussions in sports are obviously a big problem that has become more prevalent in the media recently, but most people don’t realize how easy it is to suffer a brain injury from a car accident as well.
There may be hope for someone who has suffered from a traumatic brain injury, however.
Dr. James Lechleiter has found a class of compounds that helps protect neurons in the brain following a brain injury. The compounds trigger the cells in the brain that help take care of other cells, thus protecting the brain from further injury and preventing long-term damage.
The compounds can’t do anything for the cells that have already been damaged from the injury, but if they can help stop the continuation of damage directly after the injury occurred, it could potentially make a huge difference in the person’s recovery. According to the article, the testing is being done so that the compound is given within 30 minutes of the injury.
Sustaining a traumatic brain injury can cause short and long-term effects. To make matters worse, when someone has one concussion, they are that much more susceptible to it happening again.
Even though the discovery of this compound seems to be in the beginning stages, it is encouraging to know that there is promising research for treating brain injuries.
