Thanks to people like Muhammed Ali, many Americans are aware that repeated concussions and mild brain injuries can increase the risk of Parkinson's disease. However, a new study provides California brain injury lawyers new information about the source of this increased risk.

Scientists at UCLA have identified that the loss of a specific kind of neuron is responsible for this increased long-term risk of Parkinson's Disease. The researchers studied rats with moderate traumatic brain injury, and found that the rats suffered a 15% loss of brain cells called nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The loss of these cells occurred soon after the brain injury.

Further, the loss of the brain cells continued for weeks after the injury. The researchers estimated that there was a loss of 30% of the brain cells 26 weeks after the brain injury. The loss of these types of brain cells can result in the kind of symptoms that are typically seen in patients with Parkinson's Disease. These symptoms include tremors, problems with movement or akinesia, and rigidity.

Further, the researchers found that the risk of Parkinson Disease after a brain injury increased when another risk factor, the pesticide Paraquat was introduced into the equation. This is a herbicide which has been known to have toxic effects in human beings. It has also been linked to the development of Parkinson's Disease.

Researchers looked at the long-term risks of Parkinson's disease after a traumatic brain injury as well as the difference in effects after exposure to Paraquat. They found that rats who had suffered a moderate brain injury suffered a 15% loss of the dopaminergic neurons. However, when Paraquat was introduced into the environment, there was a 30% loss of these neurons.

This suggests that not only are these neurons compromised after a traumatic brain injury, but the ones that remain also become more susceptible due to the toxicity of Paraquat.

The U.S. military is conducting experimental research on the use of pressurized chambers in order to treat traumatic brain injuries. The concept is based on exposing victims of traumatic brain injury to increased levels of oxygen, which can help the brain heal.

The pressurized chambers are the same as those used to treat scuba divers who suffer from decompression sickness. Patients inside the pressurized chamber are exposed to the same amount of pressure as being under 20 feet of water. The military has been tightlipped about the details of these experiments. Not much is known about the success of these treatments, or whether there will be any success at all.

While it is too early for California brain injury lawyers to determine if there will be any major developments from this research that might treat brain injury, there is reason to be hopeful. Some of the most promising research in brain injury treatment in recent years has come from the Department of Defense. The U.S. military is investing heavily in the treatment of traumatic brain injury, in order to cope with the large numbers of combat veterans suffering from these injuries. According to statistics, since 2003, more than 134,000 service members have come back from combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with brain injuries.

There is little that can be done to completely reverse a serious brain injury once it occurs, but emergency medical treatment can help limit the extent or severity of the injury. Additionally, over a period of time, a person may be able to regain some of his abilities through extensive rehabilitation and therapy.