Even Mild Brain Injuries Can Cause Long-Lasting Damage

A surprising number of people in Virginia and across the United States receive brain injuries every year. From serious car collisions to slip-and-fall accidents, any sudden impact to the head may cause damage to the soft tissue of the brain. In some cases, people are able to see immediate signs of brain trauma, such as dizziness, tingling in the extremities, seizures and even difficulties seeing and/or hearing. There are other situations, however, where injured people may not know that they have brain trauma until weeks, even months after the accident occurred. Even though mild brain trauma may not present these harsh side effects, studies show that slight damage to the white matter of the brain can still have long-lasting effects.

A study published in the journal Neurology reported that people with mild TBI may experience cognitive difficulties more than a year after the accident occurred. The study tested a group of people with mild TBI, and then rescanned their brain tissue 12 months after the initial evaluation. While some patients showed marked improvement, others still had areas of damaged brain tissue.

Cognitive brain damage can make it hard for some people to understand and process language, depending on what part of the brain was injured. Some people may find it difficult to concentrate, problem solve, plan and keep on task, which could interfere with their job. As soon as people begin to experience the signs of TBI, they should visit a medical professional immediately. A physician can customize a treatment plan based on each patient’s unique case.