Novel Mechanism for Reducing Acute and Chronic Neurodegeneration After Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a major problem and has affected hundreds of thousands of service personnel who have served in the Mideast war theater. Many of these personnel have sustained repeated mild or concussive brain injury and now suffer from long-lasting cognitive and physical symptoms. Numerous studies over the past 40 years have consistently shown that high levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate can damage or kill brain cells. Research has found that TBI causes dangerously high level of glutamate in the brain. We have proposed a new therapy that will reduce brain levels of glutamate by reducing glutamate levels in the blood. This therapy works by enhancing a natural process of converting blood glutamate to an inactive substance. We will test this therapy by injecting rats with natural blood enzymes after they receive a controlled experimental brain injury. We will measure the treatment effects on several important outcome measurements including, blood levels of glutamate, early and delayed brain cell loss, and cognitive performance in a maze. The project is highly relevant to military interests in TBI because it will increase our understanding of the early and delayed effects of exposure to repetitive concussions. The project could also lead to the development of an easily administered treatment of service personnel exposed to TBI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1057802
Entities
People
- Bruce Lyeth
Organizations
- University of California, Davis