Researchers at the University of Iowa discovered a new class of compound that protects brain cells from the kind of damage caused by blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The study was conducted on mice models that were treated with compounds 24-36 hours after experiencing TBI through a blast injury. Researchers noted that the compound protected from the harmful effects of TBI, researchers noted.
Researchers explain that TBI due to a blast injury is one of the most common health issues faced by the U.S. servicemen and women. Around 10-20 percent of the more than 2 million U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan have experienced TBI.
People who have better recovery from TBI are prone to experience personality changes. The experts warn that family members of these patients should take extra care to prevent comparison of the patients with the way he/she "used to be," according to Family Caregiver Alliance.
The researchers of the current study say that TBI is associated with several neurological complications such as cognitive and motor decline. It also causes psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, depression and brain tissue abnormalities that resemble Alzheimer's disease.
"The lack of neuroprotective treatments for traumatic brain injury is a serious problem in our society," says Dr. Andrew Pieper, senior study author and associate professor of psychiatry, neurology and radiation oncology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. "Everyone involved in this work is motivated to find a way to offer hope for patients, which today include both military personnel and civilians, by establishing a basis for a new treatment to combat the deleterious neuropsychiatric outcomes after blast injury."
Mayo Clinic has certain suggestions for people with TBI to cope with their problems. The report advises patients to join a support group, learn new coping strategies and get emotional support. People should follow a consistent schedule like keeping things in designated places in order to prevent confusion, taking the same routes when going to frequently-visited destinations and also staying focused. People with TBI should avoid distractions caused by various things such as loud noise from television or radio. Lastly, they need to bring in proper changes at work or school to allow more time to complete tasks or break down tasks into smaller steps.
The current study was published in the journal Cell Reports.
