In the blink of an eye, a car accident can leave you or a loved one with serious, life-altering injuries. Among these injuries are those that affect the brain, which can lead to cognitive, psychological, and emotional issues that can be disruptive, to say the least. As stressful as it can be to deal with a brain injury, new medical advances are showing promise in the treatment of some conditions.
New discoveries made in the treatment of concussions
A lot of research has gone into treating concussions, which are often suffered by car accident victims. Recently, though, doctors made what could be a major advancement for postconcussion treatments aimed at decreasing cognitive decline and depression.
In the study, researchers looked at immune cells in the brain and how they often cause chronic inflammation in those who have suffered a concussion. To assess whether those cells could be addressed, researchers eliminated those cells in mice and then allowed the cells to repopulate over time. Researchers said that this technique is sort of like resetting the brain in some regard.
The results
After conducting what scientists refer to as forced cell turnover, researchers found that mice developed less inflammation than those mice that were not treated, and they had fewer problems with thinking 30 days after their injury.
Keep in mind, though, that these are preliminary steps in developing effective treatments for humans, so the process will take time. But what this study shows is that there is hope on the horizon for those who have suffered a brain injury as a result of a car accident. So, if you or a loved one is struggling with one of these injuries, stay hopeful and be sure to reach out for any help that you may need.