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- Brain damage is manifested by impairment of cognitive, motor, or sensory skills mediated by the brain.
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What causes brain damage?
What is a brain injury?
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What happens if your brain is damaged?
Can a head injury cause a brain injury?
A brain injury can result in a confusing array of psychological changes. These range from subtle and temporary lapses in ability and behaviour, to a profound and permanent reduction in basic skills and loss of control of emotion and behaviour.
- Overview
- What are the types of injuries that cause brain damage?
- What are common causes of brain injuries?
- Alcohol and brain damage
- What are the symptoms?
- How is brain damage diagnosed?
- What are the treatment options?
- What is the outlook for people with brain injury?
- Where to find help
Brain damage can occur following a traumatic injury, such as a fall or car accident, or a nontraumatic, acquired injury, such as a stroke.
The brain does not fully mend itself the way a cut or other injury does in the body. Recovery and return to function following brain damage depends on the cause of the injury and the person’s symptoms.
Traumatic injuries
Traumatic brain injuries occur due to a blow, shaking, or strong rotational injury to the head that damages the brain. Examples of these injuries include: •Closed head injury. This head injury occurs when an outside force, such as a blow to the head, doesn’t penetrate the skull, but it causes injury and brain swelling. •Concussion. This injury causes impairment in brain function. It can be the result of a closed or penetrating head injury. •Contusion. This is a bruise or bleeding in the brain that’s due to a blow or jolt to the head. •Penetrating injury. This is a type of brain injury where a bullet, knife, or other sharp object penetrates the skull and enters the brain. People may also refer to this as an open head injury. •Shaken baby syndrome. This type of damage occurs due to excessive shaking of a young child.
Acquired injuries
Acquired brain injuries occur without a hereditary or degenerative cause. Examples of nontraumatic brain injuries include: •Stroke. Stroke occurs due to a loss of blood flow to the brain. This may be the result of a blood clot or a bleed on the brain. •Tumor. There are many types of brain tumors, all of which cause differing levels of damage. Brain tumors can be benign or cancerous. •Brain infections or inflammation. Infections such as meningitis can cause brain injury. •Anoxic or hypoxic injury. These injuries occur when brain cells do not get enough oxygen. These are just some of the examples of the most common types of brain injury.
Any event that causes an impact injury to the head can cause a traumatic brain injury, such as:
•falls
•motor vehicle accidents
•blows to the head
Just as there are many types of acquired brain injury, there are many causes. For example, any instance that results in a lack of oxygen or blood to the brain can result in an anoxic injury or stroke, and infections can have many sources.
Some common causes of acquired brain injuries include:
Drinking alcohol can cause a shrinking of the brain, known as brain atrophy.
Heavy drinking is a common cause, but moderate drinking can also lead to brain atrophy, according to a 2017 study. Moderate drinking is defined as five to nine medium glasses of wine per week.
Alcohol can also interfere with brain cell function and survival, which can have long-term effects on brain health.
In addition, the following alcohol-related conditions can all impair brain function and can cause lasting damage:
•Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
•hepatic encephalopathy
The brain is a complex organ. Each portion of the brain has different functions. A person’s symptoms of brain damage will vary depending on the location of the damage.
Some general symptoms doctors associate with brain damage include:
•affected balance
•blurred vision
•confusion
•difficulty speaking clearly
When diagnosing a brain injury, a doctor will first consider your symptoms and the events that led to your injury. For example, they may ask whether other people saw you lose consciousness. This will help doctors establish whether brain damage is the result of a traumatic or acquired injury.
They will also consider if the person is acting very differently from their usual behavior, or if the person is speaking and responsive to others.
Doctors will also perform other types of testing to determine the extent of an injury. Examples of these tests include:
•Imaging studies. CT scans or other imaging studies can reveal tumors, bleeding, or other damage to the brain.
•Blood tests. Testing for signs of infection and electrolyte imbalances can reveal the causes and effects of traumatic and nontraumatic injuries.
•Brain evaluations. Doctors have developed a number of tests that target certain areas of the brain, such as memory, problem-solving, and concentration.
Treatments for brain damage will vary due to the type of injury and the person’s symptoms. They can also change over time, as doctors see the extent of brain damage.
Around half of people with severe head injuries require surgery, reports the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Doctors will recommend surgery if there’s:
•significant bleeding in the brain
•a tumor
•a foreign object in the skull or brain itself
After treating the most acute brain injury stages, doctors may recommend treatments such as:
Brain damage is a medical emergency. In the United States, there were approximately 224,000 hospitalizations relating to traumatic brain injuries in 2017 and 61,000 related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, the outlook for a person with brain injury depends on the severity of the injury and the person’s overall health before the injury. Both traumatic and acquired brain damage can result in physical and mental impairment.
Physical rehabilitation and psychotherapy may help improve a person’s outlook.
Brain injury can take time and effort to recover. Some people may not fully return to their cognitive function before their injury. Over time and with treatment, doctors can work with a person and their loved ones to identify realistic expectations for their recovery.
Brain damage can be incredibly difficult for a person and their loved ones. Several resources exist to provide support and education, such as:
•Brain Injury Association of America
•Brain Injury Resource Center
•Brainline (for people with brain injury and PTSD)
- Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA
Jan 15, 2014 · Brain Injury (BI) by definition is injury to the brain that causes neurological dysregulation, meaning that the brain is not functioning properly. This can result in ongoing...
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when a severe jolt or blow to the head leads to brain damage. It can also result when an object, such as a bullet or shrapnel, pierces the brain. Contents....
- TBIs are commonly caused by sports injuries, falls, acts of violence, and collisions involving drivers or bikers. Symptoms can appear immediately a...
- TBIs are quite common. About 2.87 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths were attributed to TBIs in the United States in...
- Concussions are often overlooked or misdiagnosed, but early recognition is key to recovery. According to the CDC, signs of a concussion include: •...
- Medical professionals diagnose TBI using a variety of tests. They may rely on brain imaging through a CT scan or an MRI. They may utilize the Glasg...
- Post-concussion syndrome refers to symptoms of a concussion that persist after the typical recovery window, often three to six months. The symptoms...
- A sudden jolt, such as those that occur in concussions, can send the delicate brain crashing into the hard skull that surrounds it. This can cause...
- People often think of sports injuries and car accidents when considering a brain injury, but many other incidents can lead to TBI as well. Domestic...
- Yes, there seems to be a clear connection between TBI and psychiatric symptoms. A 2013 study that followed 1.4 million Danish citizens found that i...
- Head injuries can cause subtle or pronounced changes in personality. In more severe cases, the injured person may have angry outbursts or make impu...
A brain injury can affect any of our cognitive skills, causing difficulties with our ability to think, learn and remember. While some people can make a good recovery after brain injury, many have long-term cognitive effects, with effects such as memory problems being particularly common.
Apr 7, 2013 · n. injury to the brain that manifests as signs of impairment in cognitive, sensory, and motor skills mediated by the nervous center. Its most frequent causes include birth injury , intracranial hemorrhage , cerebral stroke, and trauma to the brain- also includes infection, inflammation, seizures, and metabolic disorders .
The depth of the brain’s unconscious, taken-for-granted functions and complex conscious abilities comes into sharp relief when they are disrupted in cases of brain disease and injury.
