Brain Injury Benefit in Fairway, Kansas
Premier Bank is hosting the “Cookout for a Cause” Luncheon. Premier Bank is located in Fairway, Kansas at 2701 Shawnee Mission Parkway. On April 30th from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. you can get a hamburger or hot dog, chips, drink and a cookie! All proceeds will go to the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City.
Could Amino Acids Help Improve Cognitive Function of Brain Injury Victims?
Neurologist researchers have shown amino acids given to brain-injured rodents show cognitive improvements and may be the first effective treatment for people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) who have cognitive impairments.
If the results in these small animals could be transferred to humans, it would be very beneficial. Facts: Every 23 seconds, a man, woman or child in the United States suffers a TBI, which is also the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults. TBIs are also responsible for permanent disabilities in more than 5 million Americans. A majority of those cases are caused by motor vehicle accidents and injuries soldiers sustain in battle.
Currently, physicians can only reduce the swelling that occurs after a traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, there are no treatments for brain damage, which can cause loss of memory, learning and more.
Current animals in the study receive a drink which contains three types of amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. Past researcher has shown little improvement in people with severe brain injuries after injected the amino acids through an IV. Hopefully, this will soon change.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Consequence of Traumatic Brain Injury (CTE) in Boxers and Football Players Now Linked To Hockey Players
A deceased N.H.L player, Reggie Fleming, has been found to have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE),which is caused by multiple blows to the head. CTE is a common condition found in boxers, and more recently football players as we have highlighted in previous blog posts, and now hockey players.
As we recently mentioned, Kansas City Royals player Brian McRae was part of a symposium held to bring together professionals on the subject of sports concussions. In light of the continuing revelations regarding the prevalence of sports concussion across several different contact sports, it appears that this McRae’s Kansas City area conference was both well timed and sorely needed.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy symptoms including memory impairment, emotional instability, erratic behavior, depression, and problems with impulse control.
A new program has been created by The Sports Legacy Institute and Boston University to examine deceased athletes’ brains to explore and get a better understanding of the effects of concussions in sports.
Having grown up in Northern Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, I have played more than my share of hockey while growing up and even now occasionally out in Overland Park, Kansas. I have sustained a few injuries from physical contact, courtesy of the game, including head injuries. There was one particular outing that I vividly remember, not even a game, when I was slammed headfirst into the boards with such ferocity that it felt as if my spine was being jammed into my skull. My team was having a one-on-one practice scrimmage and I had the puck. I deked right, I deked left and as I was about to complete my fake, I got smashed from behind. Thanks to my teammate, Mike Gibeau, my head hit the boards like a ton of bricks.
I was taken to the locker room where my dad met me, concerned whether I was even still alive having had my bell rung so hard. For quite some time thereafter, I felt quite different, and my family was worried about long-term damage. Fortunately, my brain is still fully intact, though, with no permanent traumatic brain injury.
We were completely unaware at that time, back in 1975, that had I sustained successive head traumas I could have been in great danger, as the science now shows. The research just wasn’t as far along as it is now and that information wasn’t as readily available.
The Kansas City area brain injury lawyers at Roswold Law Group encourage parents to educate themselves so that they are able to protect their children to every extent possible from serious and permanent traumatic brain injury in connection with contact sports. Much information can be found right here on our Kansas City brain injury blog. Parent are also encouraged to check out the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, which is a great resource for head injury information.
Military Brain Injury Awareness
Scientists presented evidence that the brain needs rest after an injury, and that another injury while recovering from the first can make the injury much worse. After Military officials heard this they took immediate action. The Pentagon decided they will take soldiers out of combat who were exposed to a roadside bomb blast for 24 hours and examine them for possible symptoms of traumatic brain injuries. Even if the soldiers do not exhibit any signs of TBI, short-term memory and concentration skills will be tested as well as a check for double vision and ringing ears.
Recent attention toward brain injuries among troops came from a shocking statistic that almost 20 percent of soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered some form of TBI.
The Pentagon announced the changes in brain injury rules last week and troops are already being trained in this new plan. The new combat rules will allow soldiers exposed to roadside bombs a better chance of recovery from their injuries.
The Missouri and Kansas brain injury attorneys at Roswold Law Group applaud any steps to detect brain injury early and to prevent brain injuries.
WARNING: Loss of Taste and Smell Due to Traumatic Brain Injury
Scientists from The University of Montreal finds that traumatic brain injuries (TBI), ranging from moderate to severe, can cause loss of smell and/or taste. The team of scientists found 49 people with TBI (73% male with an average age of 43), and had them answer questionnaires and perform tests to measure loss of smell and taste. The findings revealed that 55 percent had an impaired sense of smell.
Indications of both test came to conclude: patients with frontal brain injuries are more likely to have loss of smell, which plays a large role in daily lives. A loss of smell can pose health and safety risks because we use our olfactory system to smell our foods before we eat and to check for potential fires or gas leaks. Loss of smell has also been linked to a poor quality of life causing depression, mood swings, worries about personal hygeine, and loss of appetite.
The kansas city based brain injury attorneys at Roswold Law Group have written a number of articles with information on brain injuries including Tips for Communicating with Your Doctor. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, we encourage you to browse through our site – we provide a library of articles and frequently asked questions regarding Missouri and Kansas brain injuries.