Unfortunately, there is currently no FDA-approved treatment for people who suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). These types of injures are devastating, because they can often severely limit a person’s ability to function and live their daily lives without assistance. The great news for these victims is that the University of Kentucky and other medical technology organizations are at the forefront of developing some new and promising treatment methods for TBI.
Hyperbaric oxygen
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment involves using a pressurized chamber to deliver large amounts of oxygen directly to the victim’s body tissue. Initial trials indicate that this treatment can help stop cell death in a TBI victim’s injured brain.
MP201
A mitochondrial uncoupling compound known as MP201 is proving to be effective in reducing brain volume loss due to TBI. It also seems to have a positive effect on restoring cognition even after only two weeks.
Mescaline, LSD and other psychedelic drugs
TBI can often have a negative effect on hippocampal neurogenesis – which is the process by which the body creates new neurons to replace dead ones in the hippocampus, an important structure in the brain. A weekly dose of psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs seems to have a positive effect on promoting hippocampal neurogenesis in TBI victims’ damaged brain tissue.
Neuralink
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, has founded a brain-computer interface company called Neuralink. The company is working on developing a brain implant that will allow victims of TBI and other neurological disorders to interact with computers and phones even if they do not have full function in their limbs. This technology could open up new realms of freedom for TBI victims who are currently unable to communicate as well as they could before their accident.
Light therapy
This type of therapy involves a device that uses light patterns to alter brain chemicals which control mood and sleep patterns. Light therapy is currently being used to treat war veterans that suffer from PTSD and TBI. These veterans report that light therapy has helped to improve their thinking, mood and sleep patterns that their TBI disrupted.
In the near future, the devastating effects of TBI might not be as limiting as they are now. If you or someone you know is suffering from TBI symptoms, medical technology might offer you hope for an easier future, and possibly even a full recovery.
