Actress Dies from Traumatic Brain Injury

Natasha Richardson died from a head injury which occurred during a skiing lesson in Canada. The actress was not wearing a helmet.

After the fall, she felt fine and was kidding and joking with the staff but about an hour later, fell sick.

The world is shocked and this revives the argument for helmets during skiing.

The Elderly, Their Brains, and the Internet

Internet browsing enhances middle aged to older people’s brain power.

A study said that elderly people who search the web have better controlled decision making and complex reasoning powers than their non Internet savvy neighbors. This activity has shown in a small control study that browsing the Web shrinks the cells that shrink the brain.

Move over reading and crossword puzzles. The aging population who gets their mouses (mice) going can increase brain power while staving off dementia.

Blogger’s note: If this study is true – I’m going to be a genius when I die!

Importance of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation

Traumatic brain injury can be from a mild concussion from a blow to the head and more serious injuries where the brain bleeds or there is a loss of oxygen to the brain.

Rehabilitation is crucial to the best of outcomes. Rehabilitation starts by undergoing tests for a number of functions including behavioral, cognitive, motor, language, and executive. Depending on results, the patient's rehabilitation therapy is tailor-made to suit his needs. This is because everyone responds to therapy differently and heals at different rates. Therapy can include occupational, physical and language therapy plus support groups.

All rehabilitation techniques are geared towards ensuring a person to function productively both at home and as a member of society. This may include making modifications to their living space in order to easily perform everyday duties. Rehabilitation options range from at-home rehabilitation to inpatient rehabilitation centers.

Most importantly people with TBI should be surrounded by supportive family and friends who should also be part of support groups in order to help them through this crucial time. Patience is key to success.

Children with Traumatic Brain Injuries

One mother's struggle with her child's traumatic brain injury creates a non-profit organization to help other families facing similar problems.

When Tracy Porter was dealing with her child's TBI, she struggled to find resources and support.

Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children in the United States. Not only is the brain injury difficult for the child but it pulls on the heart strings of the family.

This is why Porter started Mothers Against Brain Injury with the mission to "to be the leading organization dedicated to providing hope, comfort and valuable information to families experiencing a traumatic brain injury with a loved one."

She provides tote bags filled with resources, comforting items, and support tools.

What a special person Porter must be. Kudos to her and her organization.

Count Your Blessings: TBI

Here's one very good reason to wear a full face helmet while skateboarding: It can save your life.

A 17-year-old boy lost control of his skateboard and crashed into a moving vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital where he had a broken leg and swelling of the brain. No one thought he would live or survive the surgery but he did. He went on to relearn at an excelerated rate and didn't have to spend time in a rehab center. He still doesn't remember too much about the accident.

His family and friends were his rock and his salvation. He is one lucky teenager.

But you might not be as blessed.

He was rushed into the ER when there happened to be a neurologist on call, he was incoherent, he was in a coma, on a ventilator but now he's back to playing video games.

His parents are speaking out to other parents about the importance of full faced helmets and other safety measures. They have contacted skateboarding professionals urging them to use helmets and ask their fans to do likewise.

They have prayed for a full recovery and it looks like their prayers will be answered.

Traumatic Brain Injuries Past and Present

The brain is an astonishing three-pound organ that is responsible for our basic survival and identity.

Unfortunately, it is very fragile. Cars, bullets, rods, and even a baseball can damage the brain, so can slips and falls from heights.

Historical Connection
It is a historical fact that ancient civilizations had remarkable knowledge about treating traumatic brain injuries. The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus dated as far back to the 17th century B.C. is the oldest known surgical treatise discovered by man. This treatise is systematically written in an arrangement of cases beginning with injuries to the head and proceeding downward through the body. It is an amazing this ancient document contains lucid descriptions of the cranial sutures, the meninges, the external surfaces of the brain, and other parts.

There is also evidence that surgical repair of traumatic brain injuries was performed in ancient Greece. Physicians developed instruments for removing bone fragments from a fractured skull and for cutting holes in the skull to repair head wounds. The function of the human brain was well known by the Greek physician Hippocrates who believed that the brain was the source of feeling, awareness, and thought. Over the ages, treatment of traumatic brain injuries evolved dramatically. Recovery, however, is still very slow and often incomplete. Many individuals do not recover well enough to lead an independent life.

Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injuries, TBI

What are the consequences of a traumatic brain injury?



When people think of a traumatic brain injury, they usually think of a serious bump on the head! While we all understand how dangerous brain injuries can be, not many of us realize the overall effects on a person. A brain injury is quite like a domino effect-- it will not only lead to other physical problems, but also might cause mental and emotional problems for the affected person.



A look at the traumatic brain injury statistics throws some very surprising numbers: In 2005, these brain injuries resulted in over 8,000 fatalities, mainly among people who were 65 years old or above. The most common cause for these injuries has been a fall and roughly 50% of these falls were unintentional. This is to be expected, since older people tend to have less control over their balance and motor faculties. But what is disturbing is brain injuries are often misdiagnosed, especially among the elderly. Studies have shown that a traumatic brain injury has long-term emotional, functional, and cognitive repercussions. They can also have psychological effects as well, with patients developing phobias about being alone or being near the places where they have fallen.



Researchers are also looking into accidents like breaking a hip or leg, as this too can have traumatic effects on a patient. They believe that it is the responsibility of caregivers, health care officials, and the community at large to help make the surroundings as fall-proof as possible for the elderly.