traumatic brain injuries

Published on: November 29, 2024

Naps can Improve Motor Learning after Brain Injury

New studies find that persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury and are undergoing rehabilitative motor skills therapy, may benefit from short naps after their therapy sessions. Traumatic brain injuries often occur from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, slip and falls as well as due to construction site accidents.

The results of the study were published recently in the Journal of Sleep Research. The researchers focused on the role of short naps during rehabilitation therapy for persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Many persons with brain injury struggle with motor tasks after their personal injuries.

The study involved the participation of 32 subjects with a brain injury. The participants were required to take short naps of about 45 minutes duration after their therapy sessions. Their performance was monitored using a number of parameters including MRI imaging. The researchers found that there was enhanced performance after the participants napped, with improvements including quicker retrieval of learned sequences.

Published on: August 29, 2023

Study: Traumatic Brain Injury Similar to Chronic Conditions

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to an auto accident or any other type of accident may suffer from long term consequences that are very similar to the symptoms suffered by persons living with a chronic condition.

Those conclusions came from a new study recently published in the Neurology journal. The researchers analyzed data on more than 900 patients who had suffered mild traumatic brain injury like concussions as well as 200 patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, and compared these patients to a group of 150 patients with no history of a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are frequently suffered by persons involved in car accidents, slip and fall accidents and even due to medical malpractice. As part of the research, the persons were asked about physical symptoms like headache and fatigue. They were also asked about their thinking abilities, especially the ability to perform daily and routine tasks, as well as their overall mental health and memory.

They found in their analysis that 21% of the persons with a mild brain injury suffered declines overall, compared to 26% of the persons with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Among the persons with no brain injury, the decline was just 15%.

Published on: August 1, 2023

Brain Injury Caused by Car Accidents Could Result in Unique Form of Depression

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Researchers have known for a while that a brain injury can result in depression, but the kind of depression that a traumatic brain injury causes is different from other forms of depression. Traumatic brain injuries often arise out of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, or any other event that causes a significant impact to the head.

A new study finds that the kind of depression that results after a brain injury may be different from regular depression with some unique symptoms. In fact, the researchers believe that brain injury -related depression could possibly be its own distinct condition. These are important findings because they shed new light on the kind of consequences that a brain injury patient can suffer.

For years now, researchers have known that depression can set in after a person has suffered a brain injury, but there have been questions about whether the depression is a result of the injury itself or because of the trauma related to the car accident or incident that caused the personal injury. The general consensus, however, is that the depression is caused by the personal injury.

Published on: May 30, 2023

Even Mild Brain Injury can Increase Risk of Criminal Behavior

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Traumatic brain injuries like those that typically result from auto accidents, pedestrian accidents and slip and falls can have a number of long term consequences. A new study finds that the risk of criminal behavior increases after even a mild brain injury. This increased risk is something that has to be considered when litigating personal injury claims.

The study was conducted in New Zealand, and found that a brain injury does not have to be severe in order to have effects that result in criminal behavior. Even a mild brain injury like a concussion can significantly increase a person’s risk of engaging in criminal behavior.

The analysis found that people with a brain injury had a higher rate of criminal convictions and arrests, compared to persons who had not suffered a brain injury. Further, the risk of criminal behavior seemed to increase with the number of brain injuries the person had suffered. A higher number of concussions translated into a higher risk of criminal activity.