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Fruit flies used in TBI studies

On Behalf of | Oct 25, 2013 | Brain Injury |

Texas residents may be interested to learn that new research is being conducted on traumatic brain injuries. While the symptoms are well known, the underlying pathological causes are not well understood. This is due to the difficulty of researching TBIs in humans. Now, one researcher is using fruit flies in an effort to understand the connection between the injuries and their effects.

TBIs occur when an outside force causes the brain to strike the skull. While the initial effects of the injury can be mild and includes dizziness and loss of coordination, the long term effects can include memory loss, cognitive problems and severe depression.

  – Article By Richard Weaver

Fruit flies have been chosen as test subjects for the research due to their anatomy. The fly has a brain that is encased in a hard cuticle, which acts as an acceptable analogy to the human brain. Using the flies, researchers have discovered that the age and genetics of certain subjects can be factors in how the symptoms of TBIs manifest.

TBIs are common injuries and can result from car accidents and falls. If a person suffers this type of injury due to the negligence of another, the victim may be able to pursue monetary compensation in civil court. A personal injury lawyer may be able to negotiate with the insurance company responsible for paying the that compensation, which may cover the immediate and future medical costs associated with these injuries. In some cases, the lawyer may represent a client in court if the parties refuse to settle.

Source: Science Daily, “From Football to Flies: Lessons About Traumatic Brain Injury“, October 14, 2013

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