The Attorneys You Need When It Matters Most

Changes in myelin after mild TBIs

Oklahoma residents who have suffered a traumatic brain injury are likely to experience changes in their myelin. According to initial research that has been conducted with mcDESPOT magnetic resonance imaging, alterations in the myelin content in the brain are noticeable when an injury first occurs and three months afterward.

Mild TBIs can cause multiple debilitating symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, difficulty with concentrating, nausea and more. Some of these symptoms may not be resolved until weeks or months later. Individuals who participate in certain contact sports and repeatedly sustain mild TBIs are likely to develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative condition that develops as one ages that causes substantial neurocognitive and personality changes.

The researchers conducted their study to find more effective diagnostic and prognostic aids for mild TBIs, especially in individuals who have a greater chance of incurring the injuries. Traditional research on neuroimaging has not been able to uncover the changes the brain undergoes immediately after mild TBIs, including concussions.

The researchers focused on testing a certain MRI technique, the mcDESPOT, to determine if there was proof of changes in the white matter in the brains of college-level rugby and football male players who had sustained mild TBIs. The myelin-covered bundles of axons are vulnerable to damage from mechanical forces when a head injury occurs and also sustain secondary injury due to the chemical changes and swelling that takes place in the brain post-injury.

A personal injury attorney may work to obtain financial compensation on behalf of people who have sustained a brain injury due to the negligence of another person. A lawyer may engage in litigation to show how the negligent party is culpable for the medical expenses, lost wages or permanent disability experienced by his or her injured client.