Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
(Please note: the names and locations of all parties have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the proceedings.)
RISK OF ALZHEIMER’S cont.
In Neuropsychiatric Reviews, October of 2000, Vol. 1, #5, Dr. Trojanowski comments that, “Recent studies have provided very strong evidence that there is a connection between head trauma and at least some of the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Brenda L. Plassman, Ph.D., director of the program in epidemiology of dementia at Duke University Medical Center is quoted as saying, “Positive series outnumber negative ones (in terms of the causal relationship between traumatic brain injury and the development of Alzheimer’s dementia.”
This article cited a study which involved the telephone screening of more than World War II veterans who had suffered a head injury. What was found was that veterans who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury were noted to be at increased risk for ultimately developing Alzheimer’s dementia. The link between traumatic brain injury and the development of Alzheimer’s dementia has been found to be particularly strong in male patients. No pathophysiological explanation for this phenomenon has been firmly established.
It should be also noted that according to the American Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 149, #1: pages 33-40, ‘Results suggest that traumatic brain injury reduces the time to onset of Alzheimer’s disease among persons at risk of developing the disease.’ Based upon my review of the currently available neurology literature, it is my opinion that plaintiff faces an increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s in the future as a direct result of this severe traumatic brain injury.”
IX. SUMMARY OF INJURIES
The injuries may be summarized as ongoing brain damage and impairment from a severe brain injury, including traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, multiple cerebral contusions, diffuse axonal injury, C2 vertebrae fracture, and coma with a persisting cognitive impairment and a significantly increased risk of seizures and Alzheimer’s dementia. (See Part 9 of 10.)
For more information you are welcome to contact Sacramento personal injury lawyer, Moseley Collins.