Injuries to the brain can unfortunately take a toll on a person both physically and emotionally in Colorado. Some individuals recover from brain injury relatively quickly, whereas recovery takes longer for others. Fortunately, new research shows that blood tests can help doctors understand which individuals may require years to fully recover from their concussions.
Researchers recently found that people with histories of three or more concussions had a higher likelihood of having a protein called neurofilament light chain. This protein can be found in the blood when a person’s nerve cells have died or been injured. However, in addition to pointing to brain damage, this protein has been linked to severe symptoms such as depression and PTSD even years after a concussion has happened.
Some individuals who have mild concussions are able to cover completely. However, other individuals sadly never experience full recovery. For this reason, the new discovery about blood tests may be helpful, as it may help people who have suffered brain injuries to predict their disabilities in the years ahead. Then, medical staff can intervene earlier with the goal of lessening their concussions’ effects over time.
Unfortunately, a brain injury can easily occur as a result of the carelessness of another individual in Colorado — for example, a careless driver. Fortunately, if someone’s negligence causes another person to experience this type of injury, the victim has the right to file a personal injury claim, seeking the reimbursement of monetary damages. A successfully fought claim may lead to a monetary damage award to cover ongoing medical costs and other losses related to the brain injury–causing incident.