Jersey Shore Personal Injury and Employment Specialists

Delayed symptoms of head and brain injuries

On Behalf of | Jan 4, 2019 | Car Accidents |

Vehicle collisions are one of the most common causes of head and traumatic brain injuries. When a person gets into a motor vehicle accident in New Jersey, he or she only has a limited amount of time to file a personal injury claim to recover damages. That time period is typically between two and four years. Unfortunately for many brain injury victims, the full impact of their injuries is not recognized until years, or even decades, later.

Most victims of head injuries usually notice that something is awry in the days or weeks following a crash. According to the Mayo Clinic, typical symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, speech impairment, fatigue, sleeping more than usual, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, concentration problems, feelings of depression or anxiety and mood changes usually show up days or weeks following the incident. Some may experience physical altercations such as tinnitus, hearing loss, double vision, loss or altered sense of smell or loss or altered sense of taste. Others may experience vertigo, headaches, infections and seizures. Again, however, these complications usually make themselves known within the days or weeks following the crash.

That said, researchers have revealed a link between brain injuries, head trauma and degenerative brain disorders. A degenerative brain disease can lead to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or Parkinson’s disease, all disorders that can negatively impact one’s quality of life.

One study, the findings of which were published in ScienceDaily, backs this assertion with evidence from individuals who have sustained a head injury in the past. The study monitored 40,000 individuals who survived an initial TBI 10 or more years prior. Researchers found that the risk of dementia is high among TBI survivors who have seemingly recovered from the initial injury. They also discovered that whereas a good education and high socioeconomic status are protective factors against dementia, these factors have no bearing in dementia cases involving TBI survivors.

According to the results, it seems as if a TBI triggers a process that later leads to dementia. These findings may be key in the rehabilitation and monitoring of TBI patients.