A new study from the Children’s National Hospital shines a light on a kind of brain cell that renews itself and is connected to the body’s circadian rhythms. This study provides substantial insight into how the body’s circadian clock helps people recover after suffering traumatic brain injuries.
The results of the study suggest new channels of investigation into the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, which are currently handled only with rehabilitation and supportive care instead of targeted drug treatment. These findings emphasize the value of addressing circadian disruptions to help a person’s brain injury recover.
Circadian Rhythms and Circadian Clock
Most of the body’s cells adhere to a 24-hour rhythm that is controlled by what is referred to as the circadian clock. The Children’s National research team discovered that a new kind of brain cell, referred to as NG2-glia, follows the same circadian rhythm. This type of cell is one of the few that continually self-renew through adulthood and are proliferative in the week immediately after a person suffers a brain injury.
The lead author of the research study has commented on the evidence for the role of this pathway in regulating how NG2-glia grows, both during rest and immediately following injuries. This functions as a beginning point to investigate how pathways control cellular regeneration and maximize how well a person recovers following an injury.
Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Sometimes dubbed a “silent epidemic,” traumatic brain injuries impact approximately 69 million individuals worldwide each year. Brain injuries vary from mild concussions to substantial injuries that end up causing life-long disability or death. In the United States, around 2.8 million individuals incur traumatic brain injuries each year, which includes 630,000 children. Traumatic brain injuries are reported to be a leading cause of death in individuals below the age of 45. Those people who survive head trauma are also often left facing lasting cognitive and psychological hardships.
The Role of NG2-Glia Cells
Unfortunately, target therapy does not yet exist for traumatic brain injuries, which has created a substantial need to discover the mechanism that might unlock how NG2-glia cells regenerate. These are the most common kind of brain cells found to regenerate in adult human brains.
The academic officer for the study has commented that it is critical for researchers to understand cell renewal is coordinated with the time of day. Armed with this knowledge, the academic officer commented, the team can hopefully further research into genetic healing to learn how cells regulate and regenerate.
Speak with a Knowledgeable Accident Attorney Today
Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most common injuries caused by car crashes. If you or a loved one was injured in a car crash, you should speak with an experienced attorney. Contact House Law LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Tags: brain injury, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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