West Virginia residents might like to know about the findings of a University of East Anglia study that shows a link between certain drugs and a longer recovery time when suffering from brain injury. A class of drugs called anticholinergics can treat conditions like depression, bladder problems and insomnia, but these drugs could also prolong the rehabilitation process when an older adult suffers a brain injury.

Anticholinergics are also used when treating complications arising from brain and spinal cord injuries, and these drugs sometimes come with side effects like confusion, dizziness and temporary cognitive impairment. The study looked at 52 patients who suffered from brain or spinal injury, and the patients who had higher levels of anticholinergic drug burden had a longer average length of stay at neuro-rehabilitation units.

A representative of the study noted how this matter is difficult because treating complications of spinal cord and brain injuries with anticholinergic drugs is often necessary even though the side effects of the drugs can keep patients in rehab longer because of cognitive impairment. The study was designed just to see if there was a link between ACB levels and the length of rehabilitation stays and does not prove any type of cause and effect. It could help physicians offer better care and reduce rehabilitation times.

When car accidents occur, physicians typically want to make sure that the injured victims did not suffer any brain or spinal traumas. In some cases, what seems like a head injury could also have caused damage to the brain. A injured victim of such an accident that was caused by the negligence of another driver may want obtain the assistance of a personal injury attorney to seek compensation from the responsible party.