Following a brain-injuring bump or blow to the head, brain cells and blood vessels typically swell.
This can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase in pressure inside the skull, and managing swelling is critical for patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). But researchers at University of Utah Health have discovered that swelling may also be important for protecting the brain.
According to animal studies led by Punam Sawant-Pokam, Ph.D., and K.C. Brennan, M.D., of the department of neurology, swollen neurons are less likely to exhibit troublesome patterns of overactivity associated with long-term complications of TBI than neurons that are treated after injury to reduce swelling. The findings reported in The Journal of Clinical Investigation suggest that patients with these injuries may benefit from a more targeted approach to managing cerebral swelling, also known as edema.
Read more at: University of Utah Health
