San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney On New Brain Injury Research

The reduction of certain proteins and increase of certain enzymes may be related to both traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer's disease.

Can one traumatic brain injury, with TBI or even a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), lead to Alzheimer?s disease?

That is exactly what researchers at Tufts University and Harvard Medical School have been trying to find out.

As reported by the Boston Globe, Tufts University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School have conducted a study in which they measured the protein levels in the brains of mice who had suffered moderate to severe brain injuries.

What they found was that the level of two particular brain proteins, GGA1 and GGA3, were reduced in the brains of these mice. They also found the increase of an enzyme, BACE1. BACE1 has been associated with Alzheimer?s disease.

Then the researchers looked at brain tissue from Alzheimer?s patients and found reductions of GGA1 and GGA3 and increases of the enzyme BACE1.

What this means, or suggests according to the scientists, is that one head trauma ? a single brain injury, even one registering as moderate in its severity ? may significantly increase the risk of an injury victim developing Alzheimer?s disease later in life.

The implications that this study, and others like it that are sure to follow, will have for athletes whose careers put them at a high risk of obtaining a MTBI or soldiers who are at risk for sustaining a traumatic brain injury is yet to be seen.

If you would like more information on brain injury research or facts about mild traumatic brain injury or concussions please see our traumatic brain injury page.

Source: http://www.burlisonlaw.com/blog/?p=5507

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