A study conducted at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine has found that war veterans who sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI or TBI) due to their exposure to war-time explosions – like mortar fire or improvised explosive devices – could suffer long-term neurological effects. The study is the first of its kind, as it:
- Involved the use of a state-of-the-art imaging scan, known as diffusion tensor imaging
- Was conducted within four years of the mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis, allowing researchers to gain a more in-depth look at the longer-term effects of this type of TBI on soldiers (This timeframe is novel because most other TBI research conducted on patients usually takes place once the injury has already progressed to far more acute phases).
What researchers found was that, when compared with control subjects (i.e., individuals who had not been diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injuries), the TBI patients exhibited less water flow between the brain’s axons due to the brain damage they had sustained.
While researchers are convinced that this decreased water flow in the brain’s axons in TBI patients is somehow linked to the mental and behavioral changes these patients experience as they live with their brain injuries, the next steps in this research will likely involve investigations into how exactly the physical damage caused by mild traumatic brain injuries may be linked to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues that many war veterans experience.
St. Louis Brain Injury Lawyers
If you have suffered a brain injury that may have been caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person or party, contact the St. Louis brain injury lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. We have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating through the complexities of the court system.
Since 1993, our lawyers have been successfully representing our clients in various areas of personal injury litigation, including brain injury lawsuits. Our unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice in every case we handle means that we will work relentlessly to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes to their cases. One of our primary goals is to help accident victims secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses so they can focus on their recovery and moving on with their lives.
For a free initial consult, email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen and/or to call us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office.