The Dramatic Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Myelin

April 17, 2019

Symptoms That May Arise From The Loss Of Myelin
Reduction Of Myelin Thickness
Get Legal Help If You Have Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury

The consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can turn your world upside down.

Some brain injuries are mild, with symptoms that disappear over time, provided that victims are cared for immediately and given proper attention.

However, others that suffer more severe damage are susceptible to permanent disability.

This poses a problem for millions of victims and families, since even mild TBI may result in life-long disability along with enormous social and medical burdens.

TBI happens when a person experiences a sudden blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body.

The degree of damage determines the nature of the injury or the force of impact.

Let’s take an in-depth look at traumatic brain injuries’ effects on myelin.

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Symptoms That May Arise From The Loss Of Myelin

Symptoms can range from a mild concussion to impaired thinking or memory, personality changes, depression, vision, hearing problems and to an even farther extent, epilepsy, coma, or in worst cases, even death.

A brain injury can kill neurons outright or slowly starve them of oxygen and nutrients they need to survive.

This, in turn, destroys neural pathways between them, affecting the whole neuronal circuitry.

Research done by Rutgers University concluded after studying laboratory rats that the birth of new neurons decline more rapidly after a head injury than it would during aging.

This proves to be a problem as the brain is primarily composed of neurons. It allows the body to communicate, learn and remember. In short – we rely on neurons to function.

Neurons (nerve cells) have three parts that carry out the functions of communication and integration: these include dendrites, axons, and axon terminals. The signals are passed to the brain with the myelin sheath allowing a nerve signal to travel faster and more effectively.

So what happens when damage occurs to the Myelin?

Reduction of Myelin Thickness

Myelin is made of membrane layers that wrap around axons.

It acts similarly to insulation on an electrical cable.

However, its primary function is to insulate the neuron, protect the axon, and direct the nerve’s impulse where it’s supposed to go.

Messages that pass along a damaged myelin sheath slow down, become disrupted or blocked altogether which can happen after TBI.

A week post-TBI, myelin thickness may significantly reduce and can continue to become thinner through the next six weeks.

If these nerve signals slow down, it could open you up to a whole host of potential problems relating to the nervous system activity.

Potential problems include sensory impairment, such as blurred vision, memory problems, movement, coordination, problems with bodily functions, and more.

Traumatic Brain Injuries usually happen in events such as falls, violence, sports injuries, physical abuse, and car accidents.

Motor vehicle accidents are accounted for 14% of TBI causes in 2013, making it the second leading cause in the United States.

Get Legal Help If You Have Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury

In the event that you sustained a traumatic brain injury from an automobile accident in Georgia caused by another persons negligent acts, you deserve to obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, and medical expenses from the party at fault.

Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney from The Brown Firm to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Call now at 800-529-1441 for a free consultation to discuss the nature of your case.

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