Bomb Blasts Alter Brain Lipid Levels

MTorrice writes "About 320,000 soldiers returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have struggled with neurological problems associated with traumatic brain injury, according to the Rand Corporation. Some veterans experience symptoms, such as memory loss and anxiety, without noticeable physical signs of brain injury. Now researchers report a possible chemical signature: Levels of a certain lipid spike in the brains of mice exposed to mild explosions (abstract; full article paywalled). This lipid could serve as a way to diagnose people who are at risk of developing neurological disorders after a blast, the scientists say."

Comments

I'll admit I haven't RTFAed

[Kelbear]

But I imagine the researchers barely restraining their smirks after submitting a proposal to blow up mice as their study.

Re:I'll admit I haven't RTFAed

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/worlds-scientists-admit-they-just-dont-like-mice,1256/

I wonder if they could adapt this blood test

[idontgno]

Maybe as a routine locker room procedure for impact and contact sports like football (either kind). It would beat the current "3rd concussion, you're in the injured reserve" regime, especially if it picks up sub-symptomatic TBI.

Probably not a good sign...

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Given how vital lipids are to proper brain function(cellular function generally; but nerve tissue has tons of the things even by comparison to other tissues), it seems like a very ominous sign that blast trauma too minor to cause injuries visible even with an optical microscope causes noticeable changes in the lipids floating around... Even if the neural network isn't structurally disrupted at a visible scale, interference with lipids involved in chemical or electrical nerve signalling would still cause changes in how the network functions(since the characteristics of the paths are still changing, even if connections aren't being severed outright).

Re:progesterone and traumatic brain injuries

[nido]

testosterone promotes agression in the male brain by being converted to estrogen. Women usually feel really good when they're on a progesterone-high, and only get cranky when the progesterone goes away (triggering menstruation/childbirth).