Traumatic Brain Injuries May Cause Dementia

By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury

I have blogged about the dangers of suffering a head injury and the cognitive and emotional impairments that can be caused by head injuries, however new studies indicate a link between head injuries and early onset dementia. Some of the more common causes of traumatic brain injuries are accidents, including; slip and falls, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents or pedestrian accidents. Traumatic brain injuries can cause long lasting or even permanent damage to the cognitive health of the victim. Recently, links between a head injury suffered after the age of 55 and dementia has been discovered.

Dementia

Dementia is a decline or loss of reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities which impairs the sufferer’s ability to live a normal life and perform basic tasks.[1] Dementia is most common in the elderly and affects between 4 and 5 million people in the United States. It affects about 1% of people between the ages of 60 and 64, but more than 1/3 of all people over the age of 85.

For many years, dementia was considered a normal part of aging. However, in recent years doctors have linked dementia to head injuries. Studies have shown that a mild traumatic brain suffered by someone over the age of 55 may increase the chances of that person developing dementia.[2] The study suggests that even a mild traumatic brain injury suffered by someone over the age of 55 can increase significantly increase the risk of developing dementia.

Alzheimer’s

It is known that traumatic brain injuries can cause long term brain damage. However, there is evidence which seems to indicate that people who have suffered certain types of traumatic brain injuries are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Those with a history of moderate traumatic brain injuries are at least twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as those without a history of moderate traumatic brain injuries. Those having suffered a severe traumatic brain injury are 4.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s has been linked to protein abnormalities within the brain, but it was unknown whether this was causal link. The new studies, however, have found a link between the same protein abnormalities and traumatic brain injuries.

Some cases of Alzheimer’s may be related to a gene mutation of Apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE4) which seems to provide an indicator of individuals who are predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s. New research indicates that a traumatic brain injury suffered by a person with the increased genetic predisposition may be affected even more dramatically by traumatic brain injuries. Not all people who suffer a traumatic brain injury will develop Alzheimer’s, nor will all people genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, but there is a disturbing relationship between head injuries and Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may be subtle and may not even be noticed until you return to normal activities. The most common symptoms include:

1. Headaches;
2. Nausea or vomiting;
3. Fatigue or drowsiness;
4. Difficulty sleeping;
5. Dizziness;
6. Convulsions or seizures;
7. Dilation of one or both pupils;
8. Loss of coordination;
9. Confusion;
10. Memory loss;
11. Slurred speech;
12. Irritability; and
13. Depression.

If you or a loved one are suffering from any of the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, immediately seek the care of a physician. It is extremely important not to ignore the symptoms and assume they will go away.

Contact a traumatic brain injury attorney at Jones Law Group

Have you or a loved one suffered a head injury? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury law firm today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.

Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707

References:

[1] http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/article_em.htm#dementia_overview

[2] http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20141027/brain-injuries-in-older-age-could-boost-dementia-risk-study-finds