Cytokine Storms After Mild TBI

The cytokine storms described as part of the harmful mechanism of COVID‑19, are also an inflammatory reaction to mild TBI. An excellent group of researchers out of Baylor University found that the inflammatory cytokines levels in the brain, post trauma, were significantly higher for those who suffered an MTBI.  The control levels were taken 24 hours, several weeks, and six months after the trauma. All of these levels were found to be significantly increased. The cytokine storm issue arises when the brain’s immune defenses, known as microglia, are activated after the trauma. Microglia have two states, M-1 and M-2.  M-2 is for healing and repair and M-1 is the more aggressive state and in some persons the microglia get stuck in this more destructive state and this can cause chronic neurodegeneration following trauma.