Brain damage
For other meanings, see Brain damage (disambiguation)Brain damage or
brain injury is the destruction or degeneration of
brain cells.
Brain damage may occur due to a wide range of conditions,
illnesses, or
injuries. Possible causes of widespread (
diffuse) brain damage include prolonged
hypoxia (shortage of
oxygen),
poisoning,
infection, and
neurological illness. Common causes of focal or localized brain damage are physical
trauma (
traumatic brain injury),
stroke,
aneurysm, or neurological illness.
The extent and effect of brain injury is often assessed by the use of
neurological examination,
neuroimaging, and
neuropsychological assessment.
Brain injury does not necessarily result in long-term impairment or
disability, although the location and extent of damage both have a significant effect on the likely outcome. In serious cases of brain injury, the result can be permanent
disability, including
neurocognitive deficits,
delusions (often specifically
monothematic delusions), speech or movement problems, and
mental handicap. Severe brain damage may result in
persistent vegetative state,
coma, or
death.
Various professions may be involved in the medical care and
rehabilitation of someone who suffers impairment after brain damage.
Neurologists,
neurosurgeons, and
physiatrists are
physicians who specialise in treating brain injury.
Neuropsychologists (especially
clinical neuropsychologists) are
psychologists who specialise in understanding the effects of brain injury and may be involved in assessing the extent of brain damage or creating
rehabilitation programmes.
Occupational therapists may be involved in running rehabilitation programmes to help restore lost function or help re-learn essential skills.
It is a common misconception that brain damage sustained during childhood has a better chance of successful recovery than similar injury acquired in adult life. In fact, the consequences of childhood injury may simply be more difficult to detect in the short term. This is because different
cortical areas mature at different stages, with some major cell populations and their corresponding cognitive faculties remaining unrefined until early adulthood. In the case of a child with frontal brain injury, for example, the impact of the damage may be undetectable until that child fails to develop normal executive functions in his or her late teens and early twenties.
The effects of impairment or
disability resulting from brain injury may be treated by a number of methods, including
medication,
psychotherapy,
neuropsychological rehabilitation,
snoezelen,
surgery, or physical implants such as
deep brain stimulation.
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Brain injury*
Clinical neuropsychology*
Cognitive neuropsychology*
Head injury*
Traumatic brain injury*
Neurocognitive deficit*
Neurology*
Neuropsychology*
Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)*
Epilepsy*
Head and Brain Injuries from MedlinePlus
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Brain Damage Research from ScienceDaily
