Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are far too common to ignore and very difficult to treat and live with later in the healing stages. However, there is some hope on the horizon offered by the latest scientific research, which indicates a new mechanism that reveals how neural stem cells sense an injury and communicate to tissues to instigate repair. This would mean one more step toward neuron regeneration in the wake of brain damage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is an estimated 1.5 million Americans that survive and live with a TBI. There are roughly 230,000 who may face stays in the hospital. TBI is the number one cause of disability and death in kids, adults, and the elderly.
The CDC indicates that the leading causes of traumatic head injury include:
- Falls
- Automobile accidents
- Semi truck crashes
- Colliding or being hit with an object
- Pedestrian accidents
- Assaults
- Motorcycle collisions
- Bicycle accidents
- Quick deceleration or acceleration trauma
- Accidents at work
- Accidents at a construction site
- Sports related accidents
- Recreational accidents
About 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury every year, with adolescents between ages 15 and 19 and adults aged 65 and older the most affected. The results of head trauma are not simple, and many have made the mistake of not getting their head injury checked and discovering they are experiencing serious issues in coping with daily life.
There are also concussions, in a category of their own, but still classified as TBIs. Mild traumatic brain injuries are referred to as mTBI, but there is nothing mild about the consequences.
In Portugal, scientists found a new mechanism in the brain that may be the beginning of a method to repair neurons in the wake of brain damage. TBI and stroke survivors may deal with long-term impaired cognitive and motor skills functions. This latest discovery may mean boosting neuron regeneration after brain damage.
The Coles Notes version of the recent discovery is that the brain has a surplus of neural stem cells that partially activate after tissue damage. Complete cell activation only transpires in a few cells, creating a small number of new neurons. Interestingly, the damaged area is also flooded with “glia” which is considered to be the nervous system glue.
Scientists found a new mechanism in which glia (glue) and neurons partner to drive the healing process to restore elasticity to the injured brain. The transport protein “swims” across the tissue to assist local molecules to splay out, which is key to the regeneration process.
The transport protein is referred to as Swim and carries a molecule Wg/Wnt, that activates neural stem cells. In summary, this means the neurons sense something is wrong and try to wake up dormant neural stem cells. While this was noted in fly and mouse models, the potential for opening the door to human therapies remains enormous. Scientists need to track whether a similar mechanism also exists in humans.
The potential is there to make giant strides forward in helping those who have sustained a TBI. Things can only get better.