| A study recently published in the journal of Biological | | | | * increased/progressive memory loss |
| Psychiatry has discovered a link between accelerated | | | | * hallucinations/delusion |
| dementia and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and brain | | | | * confusion |
| infections. Individuals affected by dementia may see | | | | * decrease in problem-solving and judgement |
| an acceleration of their condition when inflammation of | | | | * impaired recognition |
| the brain occurs because of a brain injury that also | | | | * disorientation |
| leads to an infection. | | | | * motor system impairment |
| Scientists had already been aware of systemic | | | | * memory deficit |
| inflammation, in which the body becomes inflamed as a | | | | * absent or impaired language ability |
| whole, to have an affect on brain function, according | | | | * lack of spontaneity |
| the study; however, until recently, little research had | | | | * irritability, poor temper control |
| been done on the link between systemic inflammation | | | | * anxiety |
| and dementia/neurodegenerative diseases. | | | | * depression |
| The study, conducted by members from the Trinity | | | | * inability to read, write, speak, form words and name |
| College Dublin and University of Southampton, studied | | | | objects |
| the "inflammatory response" to infection and injury of | | | | * no observable mood |
| mice with previous neurodegenerative disease (brain | | | | * inability to maintain employment or interact in social or |
| damage caused by loss of cells and neurons). | | | | personal situations |
| According to the study, "the response caused | | | | Unfortunately, treatments for dementia are slim and |
| exaggerated symptoms of the infection, causes | | | | may only include treating symptoms with dietary |
| changes in memory and learning and leads to | | | | supplements and prescription medicines. An article |
| accelerated progression of dementia." Patients | | | | from a February 2008 New York Times article noted |
| suffering from TBI should contact their medical | | | | that long-term care is needed for dementia patients. |
| physician to better understand the potential risk for | | | | Overcoming TBI Risks |
| developing dementia. | | | | Individuals have suffered from a traumatic brain injury |
| Dealing With Dementia | | | | or a brain infection and thus have increased the |
| The National Library of Medicine (NLM) defines | | | | inflammation within the brain should consider speaking |
| dementia as a "loss of brain function," however, the | | | | with a specialized medical professional or neurologist |
| condition is not considered a single disease, but is | | | | about the potential for developing accelerated |
| described as a "group of illnesses that involve memory, | | | | dementia. |
| behavior, learning and communications problems." | | | | It is also advisable for a brain injury victim to contact |
| Dementia is also a progressive condition that is marked | | | | an experienced brain injury attorney as it may become |
| by a lengthy list of symptoms, as described by the | | | | necessary to develop a lawsuit. Individuals can receive |
| NLM. Dementia is characterized by signs and | | | | a free legal consultation from a traumatic brain injury |
| symptoms such as the following: | | | | attorney who can offer assistance for victims of TBI. |
| * lack of concentration | | | | |