Traumatic Brain Injury Correlated with Parkinson’s

Given the technological advances within our society, broadcasting websites make it popular for normally young adult men to film themselves doing a hazardous stunt in order to gain internet fame and become a trending topic. Unfortunately, this has made it probable for many injuries to take place for those who are not trained professionals.

Not only is that alarming, but its biological implications are furthered by Claudia Späni. Discussed within Späni’s article titled, “Sex-related responses after traumatic brain injury: Considerations for preclinical modeling,” the topic of traumatic brain injuries linked to sex is explored, in showing that females are more likely in favoring recovery, whereas men are not. One example mentioned in the article, manifests how one difference is found within the neurons. Consequently, as females are injured, their neuron’s dendrites lengthen, whereas that of men reduce. Furthermore, these changes of dendritic length are more apparent as time progresses. This is of great concern as it implies that men are more at risk to acquiring more severe results through traumatic brain injury through time.

Moreover, in understanding how traumatic injury is linked to the male demographic, it is also noted that traumatic brain injury is tied to Parkinson’s. According to the article titled Concussions May Increase the Risk for Parkinson’s Disease, Nicholas Bakalar notes the severity of blunt force as something as miniscule as a minor concussion heightens one’s risk for Parkinson’s. In 56% of the participants, it is seen how those with even a mild traumatic brain injury are susceptible in acquiring Parkinson’s.

Not only is this alarming, but both of these articles can be tied to one statistic. As seen through the Parkinson’s Foundation, men are 1.5 times likelier to have Parkinson’s than women. This article is key in understanding as men are likelier to have to have Parkinson’s, a disease where its chances of acquisition are higher after any traumatic brain injury. Furthermore, one can understand its biological reasoning through the studies of Späni as mentioned above.

It is critical to conclude in saying that today’s technological advances make traumatic brain injuries to be a more prevalent as the internet culture has provoked them further. Additionally, it is important in educating all the risks of traumatic brain injury and finding solutions to prevent young adults from making harmful decisions for internet “fame.”

Works Cited

Bakalar, N. (2018, April 18). Concussions May Increase the Risk for Parkinson's Disease. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/well/live/concussions-may-increase-the-risk-for-parkinsons-disease.html

Späni, C. B., Braun, D. J., & Eldik, L. J. (2018). Sex-related responses after traumatic brain injury: Considerations for preclinical modeling. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 50, 52-66. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.03.006

Statistics. (2018, December 10). Retrieved from http://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Statistics