Can Head Injuries Increase Risk For Some Diseases?

#AskStevenWilder

In a recent press release from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), UCLA scientists announce they have found a link between head injuries and an increased risk of developing neurological and psychiatric disorders. This important discovery could help researchers identify new ways to fight disease.

Researchers identified what they termed as “master genes” that are responsible for controlling hundreds of other genes. The genes controlled by these master genes are linked to several diseases and disorders including:

• Autism
• Schizophrenia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Depression
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s disease
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The UCLA biologists discovered that when a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, the master genes can be damaged leading to damage of other genes. The damage to other genes can occur in two ways that prevent the genes from working properly. The first is when the injury results in genes producing proteins of irregular forms.  The second is when the number of expressed copies of a gene is changed in each cell.  In either case, the damage could lead to the development of a disorder or disease.

How Do Brain Injuries Occur?

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain that occurs after birth. An ABI is not a genetic condition or a birth injury. ABI is caused in a variety of ways including an infection, brain tumor, or stroke. It can also be caused by external sources such as drug abuse, poisoning, or near drowning.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by blows to the head from external forces. A penetrating injury can also cause a traumatic brain injury. Events that can result in a TBI include motor vehicle accidents, head injuries during sports, falls, and physical assaults. TBIs can impact a person’s ability to resume his normal life because he is unable to perform the same tasks as before the brain injury. Severe brain injuries may require life-long medical and personal care.

Over 500,000 Canadians will sustain a brain injury this year per one estimate. TBI is the leading cause of death and disability to Canadians under the age of 40 years. Once a person sustains a brain injury, that person is three times more likely to sustain a second brain injury and eight times more likely to sustain other bodily injuries. While traffic accidents cause over half of the acquired brain injuries, victims of other accidents can sustain a TBI. Unfortunately, just over one-fifth of victims with TBI never leave their home.

Who Pays the Expenses Associated with Brain Injuries?

When a person suffers a brain injury because of the actions of another party, that party may be held liable for any expenses resulting from the injury. In addition to the physical pain and emotional stress caused by a TBI, victims of brain injuries also suffer great financial damages.

A personal injury claim filed against the responsible party can result in compensation that can help the accident victim and his or her family pay for necessary expenses. Because of the recent research by the UCLA scientists, we now know a brain injury victim may also incur substantial damages in the future because of the increased risk of developing debilitating diseases and disorders.

Call an Ontario Brain Injury Lawyer for A Free Consultation

If you have suffered a brain injury, you need an experienced Toronto brain injury lawyer to help you recover compensation from the person or party who caused your injury.

The team of lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have experience handling brain injury claims. Call our 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now. We offer free consultations and case evaluations. Our team of personal injury lawyers represents clients throughout Ontario.