A new study spearheaded by Dr. Michael L. Lipton, of the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Centre at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, has shed new light on the neural effects of concussions.
American adults sustain concussions primarily from motor vehicle accidents, and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reports over a million concussions a year in the United States. Sports-related concussions alone affect over 300,000 adults and children each year. Often these concussions cause patients to experience mood swings or personality changes — symptoms that are difficult to deal with medically.
The researchers used a novel MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging to visualize brain abnormalities in unprecedented resolution. They found that each patient tested had a unique pattern of tissue deformation; in the past, scientists believed that concussions caused a consistent deformation pattern.
Lipton’s team believe that after a concussion, the brain tries to form new neural connections, but does this uniquely for each patient, leading to unpredictable symptoms. This new high-resolution MRI method has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of head injuries.
Source: Science Daily
