No such thing as a “mild” brain injury after a Virginia auto accident?

Every year, over one million people are affected by what doctors call “mild traumatic brain injuries” (mTBI).  However, some researchers are questioning if there is such a thing as  a “mild” injury to the brain.

 

If you’ve suffered any kind of head or brain injury in a Virginia accident, you may agree with this line of questioning.  For accident victims, a “mild” brain injury can cause as many challenges and difficulties as a “moderate” or even serious brain injury.  It all depends on what part of the brain was damaged and how extensive the damage is – and that in itself can be a challenge to figure out.

 

What do scientists know about mild brain injuries?  Just 2 to 4 days after suffering from a “mild” brain injury, accident victims have been found to have clear changes in their brains’ white matter, as well as protein markers in their blood that indicate brain damage.

 

This means that even brain injuries that are classified as “mild” can be problematic for accident victims, causing serious mental problems that affect their daily lives and their ability to understand what is going on around them.  These types of injuries can take a huge emotional and financial toll on an individual, affecting society as a whole.

 

The bottom line?  More needs to be done to prevent, diagnose, and properly treat accident victims with “mild” traumatic brain injuries.