Brain damage

Revision as of 20:37, 30 November 2012 by Charmaine Patel (talk | contribs) (→‎External links)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

WikiDoc Resources for Brain damage

Articles

Most recent articles on Brain damage

Most cited articles on Brain damage

Review articles on Brain damage

Articles on Brain damage in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Brain damage

Images of Brain damage

Photos of Brain damage

Podcasts & MP3s on Brain damage

Videos on Brain damage

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Brain damage

Bandolier on Brain damage

TRIP on Brain damage

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Brain damage at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Brain damage

Clinical Trials on Brain damage at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Brain damage

NICE Guidance on Brain damage

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Brain damage

CDC on Brain damage

Books

Books on Brain damage

News

Brain damage in the news

Be alerted to news on Brain damage

News trends on Brain damage

Commentary

Blogs on Brain damage

Definitions

Definitions of Brain damage

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Brain damage

Discussion groups on Brain damage

Patient Handouts on Brain damage

Directions to Hospitals Treating Brain damage

Risk calculators and risk factors for Brain damage

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Brain damage

Causes & Risk Factors for Brain damage

Diagnostic studies for Brain damage

Treatment of Brain damage

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Brain damage

International

Brain damage en Espanol

Brain damage en Francais

Business

Brain damage in the Marketplace

Patents on Brain damage

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Brain damage

Template:Neuropsychology

Overview

Brain damage or brain injury is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells.

Causes

Brain damage may occur due to a wide range of conditions, illnesses, injuries, and as a result of iatrogenesis. Possible causes of widespread (diffuse) brain damage include prolonged hypoxia (shortage of oxygen), poisoning by teratogens (including alcohol), infection, and neurological illness. Chemotherapy can cause brain damage to the neural stem cells and oligodendrocyte cells that produce myelin. Common causes of focal or localized brain damage are physical trauma (traumatic brain injury), stroke, aneurysm, surgery, or neurological illness.

Complications

Brain injury does not necessarily result in long-term impairment or disability, although the location and extent of damage both have a significant effect on the likely outcome. In serious cases of brain injury, the result can be permanent disability, including neurocognitive deficits, delusions (often specifically monothematic delusions), speech or movement problems, and mental handicap. There may also be personality changes. Severe brain damage may result in persistent vegetative state, coma, or death.

Brain Damage in Children

It is a common misconception that brain damage sustained during childhood has a better chance of successful recovery than similar injury acquired in adult life. It is contested that in recent studies, severe brain damage inflicted upon children can be alleviated by the interaction of nicotinamide repropagation in nerve cells. In fact, the consequences of childhood injury may simply be more difficult to detect in the short term. This is because different cortical areas mature at different stages, with some major cell populations and their corresponding cognitive faculties remaining unrefined until early adulthood. In the case of a child with frontal brain injury, for example, the impact of the damage may be undetectable until that child fails to develop normal executive functions in his or her late teens and early twenties.

Diagnosis

The extent and effect of brain injury is often assessed by the use of neurological examination, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological assessment.

Treatment

Various professions may be involved in the medical care and rehabilitation of someone who suffers impairment after brain damage. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, and physiatrists are physicians who specialise in treating brain injury. Neuropsychologists (especially clinical neuropsychologists) are psychologists who specialise in understanding the effects of brain injury and may be involved in assessing the extent of brain damage or creating rehabilitation programmes. Occupational therapists may be involved in running rehabilitation programs to help restore lost function or help re-learn essential skills.

The effects of impairment or disability resulting from brain injury may be treated by a number of methods, including medication, psychotherapy, neuropsychological rehabilitation, snoezelen, surgery, or physical implants such as deep brain stimulation.

External Links

Related Chapters


de:Hirnschaden ko:뇌손상 is:Heilaskemmd fi:Aivovaurio sv:Hjärnskada Template:WH Template:WS