Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, recently revealed the results of a study reporting that inflammation of brain tissue could result in memory loss. Further, this memory loss may be treated or prevented with anti-inflammatory drugs taken after the injury or following surgery. The presence of C-reactive protein, or CRP, in the brain is an indicator of inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the body’s immune system responds to an injury.

Researchers studied two groups of patients – one group which had CRP in their blood, and one which did not. The patients were then given a list of words to memorize and underwent testing to measure the volume of certain regions of the medial temporal lobes. The results clearly showed that patients who had CRP in their systems were able to remember fewer words and also displayed smaller medial temporal lobes.

Many drugs already exist for the treatment of inflammation. If memory loss is truly one of the symptoms of inflammation, it could possibly be reduced or corrected by administering these anti-inflammatory drugs following a head injury.

If you or a loved one is suffering from loss of memory or inflammation following a head injury, contact a Chicago brain injury lawyer. You can schedule your free consultation by filling out our online form or calling our office at (847) 651-7191.