Brain Injury News: Week of January 17
January 17, 2025
This Week in Brain Injury News
Week ending Jan. 17, 2025
The Terrifying Realization That an Unresponsive Patient Is Still in There
Dr. Daniela J. Lamas shares her experience working with patients with severe brain injuries after a study published last year shared that at least one-fourth of people who appear unresponsive actually are conscious enough to understand language.
The topic of levels of consciousness in people who have sustained severe brain injuries is gaining traction in the field of brain injury research. Last year, the Brain Injury Association of America published an article explaining new evidence suggests that life support may be withdrawn too early in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries.
Colorado Spring Green Beret suicide underscores need for brain injury awareness
A Colorado Springs-based Green Beret shot himself and exploded a Tesla Cybertruck in the hotel’s portico on New Year’s Day. The Gazette spoke with several brain injury specialists, including Dr. Michael Jaffee, a member of the Brain Injury Association of America’s board of directors, who, though they did not treat Livelsberger personally, pointed to signs in his behavior that indicate that blast injuries contributed to his troubled state.
Men Are 3 Times As Likely to Die from Traumatic Brain Injury Compared to Women
“Men are three times as likely to die from a traumatic brain injury as women; the elderly are also at increased risk; firearm-related suicide, falls and car crashes are the most common causes of TBI.”
Biomarkers for Concussion: Current Insights and Future Directions
Dr. Stefanie Howell of the Centre for Neuro Skills shares the current state of concussion biomarkers, focusing on biochemical, imaging, and physiological markers, and discusses future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
Sargent Center employees certified as brain injury specialists
Dr. Leslie Brow, Danielle Mushaweh, and Dr. Kimberli Murphy of The Sargent Center based in Warwick have recently obtained the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) credential from the Brain Injury Association of America.
Faculty expand research on domestic violence and traumatic brain injury
“A $60,000 grant from the Michael Reese Health Trust is supporting DePaul faculty in highlighting brain injury in domestic violence situations.”
Disparities Seen in Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Mortality
“There are disparities in traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related mortality, with the highest rates seen for older adults, men, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native persons, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in Brain Injury.”
A study conducted with male and female rats on the effects of repeated mild TBI found that “male rats may be more susceptible to short-and long-term consequences of TBI in the applied model. These sex differences should be considered when translating preclinical biomarker candidates to the clinic in order to guide diagnosis and treatment of CTE in a personalized manner.”