Turning conventional wisdom on its head, researchers including one of Indian-origin, have found that the excessive burst of new brain cells after a traumatic head injury. That scientists have traditionally believed helped in recovery could instead lead to epileptic seizures and long-term cognitive decline.
Read also:Novel method may prevent hearing loss in kids by 50%
Findings:
- The findings suggest that memory decline after head injury may be prevented by slowing brain cell growth.
- There is an initial increase in birth of new neurons after a brain injury but within weeks.
- In addition,there is a dramatic decrease in the normal rate at which neurons are born.
- Depleting brain cells that under normal circumstances should be there to replace damaged cells and repair the brain’s network.
- “The excess new neurons lead to epileptic seizures and could contribute to cognitive decline,”Expert added.
- Symptoms of traumatic brain injury can include impaired thinking or memory.
- In addition,personality changes and depression and vision and hearing problems as well as epilepsy.
- About 80 percent of those who develop epilepsy after a brain injury have seizures within the first two years after the damage occurs.
Experiments:
- Studying laboratory rats, the scientists found that within a month after experimental brain injury.
- In addition,the number of new brain cells declined dramatically.
- Below the numbers of new neurons that would have detected if an injury had not occurred.
- When scientists were able to prevent the excessive neurogenesis.
- In addition,which occurs within days of the injury with a drug similar to one under trial for chemotherapy treatments.
- The rate of birth of new brain cells went back to normal levels and risk for seizures was reduced.
- “That’s why we believe that limiting this process might be beneficial to stopping seizures after brain injury,” Expert said.