Genetic Association With TBI Outcome

It remains a mystery why certain individuals who suffer a mild or moderate TBI can have an excellent outcome, while others can suffer devastating effects. Comparing MRI or CT scans between patients offers little to support the differences. Studies are now (Dardiotis, E. et al 2010) starting to accumulate evidence which implicates various genetic elements in the injury and recovery process of brain trauma. They note that “the extent of brain injury after TBI seems to be modulated to some degree by genetic variance.” Further research on this important issue will be forthcoming. Patients should take comfort in these studies in cases where hope for recovery does not occur, because it is in some instances beyond the patients’ control.