The human brain is amazing in its ability to adapt. We see it occur all throughout life, especially in times of difficulThe long term prognosis of those with brain injuries is still unclear.ty. However, while there are obvious good things about this strength and versatility, there are also a handful of negative things that happens. Here, we wanted to take a look at some of these things–both the good and the bad. These can occur when the brain is injured, and even though these outcomes do not always occur, having a good idea of what the potential issues a loved one may face in the future and why is always smart. This kind of information helps us to be more prepared for the future.
Some researchers believe that after the brain has suffered some sort of injury or trauma, the process of rewiring connections can lead to difficulties in the future, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. While this theory is still young and does not have sufficient proof to point in either direction, it does point to a potential cause of dementia and it does give researchers some direction for future investigations.
When a head injury occurs, the brain is able to respond by creating alternative routes for information to be passed between neurons. This allows the brain to maintain functioning, even though damage has occurred. This rerouting of information can take time to develop, but it is possible.
There’s a downside to this phenomenon, sometimes referred to as hyperconnectivity. Because the brain is naturally designed to operate as efficiently as possible, these new hyperconnections are sometimes less reliable. They require a lot of extra metabolic energy, and can be taxing. Some scientists have speculated that this can even lead to Alzheimer’s disease in the future. So while the short term prognosis is sometimes very good, there is still debate on what will happen over the long term.
As you might know, dementia and any other sort of physical or mental disability is often devastating for an entire family. Not only does it create a new burden because of the additional care that an elderly family member now requires, it creates emotional and mental stress, too. If you have ever experienced this before, you will know that it is not easy to see a loved one’s health decline. You love that person and you feel the pain that they are going through–maybe even more severely than they do. This is not an easy thing to go through. If you are having difficulty caring for a loved one, you might want to consider speaking with a professional in the field of senior care. Even if you decide that in-home care or assisted living is not right for your mom or dad, having the option of using a respite caregiver once in a while might be just the break that you need to regain some of your own mental and physical health.
If the stress of being a family caregiver is wearing you down, feel free to get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation to see if our respite care is a good match for your family’s needs.
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