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Single TBI unlikely to cause ALS

On Behalf of | Aug 1, 2015 | Brain Injury |

Every year, many West Virginia residents suffer a traumatic brain injury as a result of an accident or of playing sports. It was previously believed that a single TBI could lead to the eventual development of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. A new study points otherwise, however.

The recently-published study was conducted by a group of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Using rats, the researchers looked at whether a one-time TBI led to ALS onset and early death. Reportedly, the researchers did not find a correlation.

Researchers postulate that repeated TBIs may be more likely to cause the later development of ALS due to the repetitive and more widespread death to neurons throughout the brain. Such repetitive injuries may be typical for people who participate in sports, such as boxing or football.

While the study is good news for the numerous people who have suffered a one-time TBI in an accident, traumatic brain injuries may still result in severe, lifelong disabilities. Even a single traumatic brain injury may leave people with brain damage, permanent changes to their personality and an inability to provide care for themselves. Those who have suffered a brain injury in an accident caused by the negligent actions of another may want to seek help from a personal injury attorney. Legal counsel can review the evidence in order to determine all relevant grounds upon which a claim may be based and then prepared and file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. Through a lawsuit, injured victims may recover damages to compensate them for their noneconomic and economic losses.