A team of scientists including a neurosurgeon from Ohio State University’s medical center has nearly concluded a 5-year study that investigates whether a novel new treatment method known as deep brain stimulation (DBS) could be therapeutic to individuals who’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury.
DBS is a form of neurostimulation that uses electrical impulses to treat neurological disorders. At the conclusion of the study, all patients showed improvement, with three exhibiting significant recoveries.
This exciting news provides hope for the millions of Americans who’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury.
Get the Facts: Instances of Brain Damage in America
In America alone, about 1.7 million individuals suffer from a traumatic brain injury every year. Brain damage lawsuits are considered some of the most expensive cases that personal injury attorneys handle. In the year 2000, brain damage costs were estimated to be around $60 billion dollars.
Patients that haven’t recovered after a two-year period are often considered permanently disabled, with the damage causing serious lasting problems including:
- Temper issues and mood swings
- Loss of memory
- Inability to learn
- Depression
Injuries of the brain have also been linked to disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. When the injury occurs at work, one must deal with both workmen’s comp along with the possibility of filing for disability. In these situations, it’s recommended to seek out a workers compensation lawyer who also does social security.
No matter the origin of the injury, the symptoms, and high treatment costs prove to be a significant hardship for those injured. Despite this, deep brain stimulation offers a bright outlook in the future of brain damage treatment.