Now that it's March and Brain Injury Awareness Month is in full swing, it's a good time to raise awareness about the impact of head injuries. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often caused by car accidents, slip and falls, work accidents, and other types of accidents involving negligence. Brain injuries often lead to long-term disability, cognitive decline, and even death. Despite advancements in neuroscience, there is currently no effective treatment to prevent the lasting effects of TBIs.
However, a new study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham introduces a potential breakthrough—a nasal spray that targets neuroinflammation. This research, published in Nature Neuroscience, suggests that the spray could reduce central nervous system damage and improve recovery outcomes. With TBIs affecting millions of people each year, this study offers hope for individuals suffering from concussions and other severe brain injuries, particularly those caused by accidents.
What types of accidents cause brain injuries?
Many TBIs occur because of accidents that could have been prevented. When negligence plays a role, victims may suffer life-altering consequences. Some of the most common causes include:
- Motor vehicle collisions: Car accidents, truck wrecks, and motorcycle crashes can cause significant head trauma, particularly when a person hits their head.
- Slip and falls: A simple fall can cause severe head injuries, especially for elderly individuals or workers in hazardous environments. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, and lack of handrails often contribute to these slip and fall accidents.
- Workplace injuries: Construction sites and industrial workplaces pose a high risk for head trauma due to falling objects, equipment malfunctions, or falls from heights.
- Physical assaults: Blunt force trauma from an attack due to negligent security can lead to TBIs, which often go untreated for extended periods.
Common brain injuries, symptoms, and long-term effects
TBIs range from mild to severe, each with unique symptoms and risks. Some of the most common types of brain injuries include:
- Concussions: The most common and least severe form of TBI, concussions cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, and sensitivity to light or noise. While symptoms often resolve in a few weeks, repeated concussions can lead to long-term damage.
- Contusions: These brain bruises result from direct impact and can cause swelling, disorientation, and speech difficulties. Severe contusions may require surgery to relieve pressure on the brain.
- Diffuse axonal injuries: When the brain moves violently inside the skull, microscopic tears can occur in nerve fibers, disrupting communication between brain cells. This type of TBI often results from high-speed car accidents.
- Penetrating TBIs: Flying debris and objects, particularly in a car accident, can penetrate the skull and lead to severe brain damage.
Symptoms of TBIs vary depending on severity but may include:
- Headaches, dizziness, and nausea
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Slurred speech or difficulty forming sentences
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
TBIs can lead to serious complications, including:
- Memory loss, difficulty focusing, and impaired problem-solving skills.
- Increased aggression, depression, and anxiety.
- Persistent headaches and migraines.
- TBIs increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurological disorders.
Why are brain injuries difficult to treat?
TBIs remain challenging to treat because they involve complex brain structures and inflammatory responses. Once brain cells are damaged, they have limited ability to regenerate. Inflammation following a TBI often worsens symptoms and causes further damage to brain tissue. Current treatments focus mainly on symptom management, such as pain relievers, physical therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation.
New study offers hope for victims
Recent research led by Dr. Saef Izzy of Mass General Brigham examined the effects of a nasal anti-CD3 treatment on mice with moderate-to-severe TBIs. The study focused on a monoclonal antibody called Foralumab, previously tested in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
By administering the nasal spray, researchers observed a reduction in brain inflammation and improved neurological outcomes. Mice treated with the nasal spray showed:
- Less anxiety and cognitive decline
- Improved motor skills
- Reduced central nervous system damage
The nasal spray works by modulating the immune response. Researchers discovered that the spray stimulates regulatory cells that communicate with microglial immune cells in the brain. This reduces the inflammatory response, which in turn helps protect brain tissue from further damage.
In experiments, mice that received the nasal spray had better neurological recovery than those that didn't. This suggests that the spray could potentially limit long-term cognitive impairment and disability in humans.
What are the future applications of this treatment?
The findings pave the way for human clinical trials. Researchers hope to move from animal models to patient testing soon.
"Our patients with traumatic brain injury still don't have an effective therapeutic to improve their outcomes, so this is a very promising and exciting time to move forward with something that's backed up with solid science and get it to patients' bedsides," said Saef Izzy, the lead author of the study.
While much of the emphasis of this study is placed on sports injuries, this treatment could help anyone recovering from car accidents, falls, and other traumatic events. Researchers also believe it may be effective in stroke patients who suffer brain injuries due to intracerebral hemorrhages.
The next step is translating these findings into clinical practice. Researchers must conduct rigorous human trials to determine whether the nasal spray is safe and effective for TBI patients. If successful, this treatment could revolutionize the way doctors manage brain injuries.
How a Texas brain injury lawyer can help
If a negligent driver in Henderson County caused your head injury, you deserve financial compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care. However, you can't count on the other driver's insurance company to do the right thing. They often try to reduce or deny claims, leaving you struggling to recover. At Weinstein Law, we stand up to insurance companies and fight for the compensation you need to move forward.
Attorney Jeff Weinstein has decades of experience handling brain injury claims and understands how these injuries affect victims and their families. With help from a dedicated brain trauma specialist, our legal team team can ensure your condition is taken seriously. Whether your brain injury requires specialist care, rehabilitation, or long-term support, we fight for full and fair compensation.
If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury in an accident, you need a lawyer who knows how to get results when the stakes are at their highest. Contact us today to schedule your free case review, and let us handle everything while you focus on healing. Our office is located in Athens, TX, and we proudly serve accident victims throughout Henderson County and East Texas.
"I highly recommend Weinstein Law! They are the go-to office of the community. You will be taken care of the minute you get in contact with them. They are a very knowledgeable team, and if they can't help you, they take the time to direct you in the right way! Everyone is super friendly and helpful - call Jeff Weinstein!" - Jasmine, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐