What Is Neuroinflammation?

Neuroinflammation happens when the brain and spinal cord become inflamed due to injury, illness, or stress. Continued neuroinflammation can lead to long-term complications and trauma. 

When a patient develops this condition as a result of someone else’s negligence, they may need legal representation from experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys to secure compensation for their losses.

At Brain Injury Law Center, we are dedicated to helping our clients understand their neuroinflammation cases so they can feel confident holding the at-fault parties accountable. We offer free case consultations to answer your questions and assess your claim. Contact us today through our online form or by calling (757) 244-7000.

Causes of Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is the way the brain and spinal cord respond to injury, disease, or the need to heal. It happens when certain chemicals, like cytokines and oxygen molecules, are produced in the body.

This response is a mix of different cells working together, both in the brain and other parts of the body. Some of these actions are meant to protect the brain and keep it healthy.

In simple terms, neuroinflammation is inflammation in the brain. Because it involves many different parts of the body, even a small change can cause problems that may make brain diseases worse or slow down healing.

The skull is thick, but a severe blow to the head can cause swelling, bleeding, and bruising. The pressure on the brain tissue can quickly damage the cells, even causing cell death. Additionally, a spinal cord injury from whiplash or other conditions can induce neuroinflammation that affects both the spinal fluid and the brain. 

In a car accident, drivers or passengers can be violently thrown around or sustain a blow to the head, leading to whiplash, brain swelling, or injury. These injuries occur due to the intense forces that cause the head to move rapidly back and forth. Similarly, individuals who participate in contact sports may experience neuroinflammation and cognitive decline as a result of repeated concussions.

Patients may develop neuroinflammation from systemic infections or toxic metabolites. They may also develop neuroinflammation in association with Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s disease, or Parkinson’s disease. 

Furthermore, infants may experience neuroinflammation as a result of various birth injuries. Other patients may suffer damage to their blood-brain barrier (BBB), a layer of cells surrounding the blood vessels inside the brain. The BBB prevents dangerous substances from entering the brain tissue, and if it is ruptured, the body’s autoimmune system may cause neuroinflammation when exposed to the formerly protected brain tissue and fluids.

Neuroinflammation Symptoms

Depending on the cause of a traumatic brain injury, the symptoms may vary slightly, and there may be long-term effects. Neuroinflammation symptoms may include: 

• Fatigue or a lack of energy
• Slower metabolism leading to weight gain
• Brain fog or lack of mental clarity
• Loss of focus after eating
• Physical lethargy and disinterest in exercise or other activities
• Mood changes, such as irritability, depression, or loss of motivation
• Neck stiffness, headaches, and light sensitivity

Also, if a patient develops diabetes who did not have blood sugar issues before or experiences a significant change in lifestyle, they may have neuroinflammation and should seek treatment.

Many are unaware of what is neuroinflammation and are grappling with symptoms without understanding their cause or how to effectively treat them. If you are struggling with neuroinflammation from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, whether it’s from being struck by a reckless driver or suffering a traumatic brain injury due to a slippery floor, we are here to support you.

The dedicated legal team at the Brain Injury Law Center is here to help those struggling with “invisible injuries” like neuroinflammation. With over $1 billion recovered for our clients, we have the proven experience and resources to relentlessly seek financial support for your injuries. Contact us for a free case review by calling (757) 244-7000 or filling out our online form.

Neuroinflammation Treatment

Treatment regimens for neuroinflammation depend on the nature and severity of the injury and the cause. Other factors that may affect a doctor’s choices are the patient’s health, medical history, and any additional injuries. Some approaches the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) recommends are:

• Intravenous (IV) steroid treatments: Medications like methylprednisolone may be used to treat the first symptoms of neuroinflammation, either emergently or as part of ongoing care.
• Antidepressants and other medications: Doctors may prescribe drugs that fight depression, as well as COX-2 inhibitors, PPAR agonists, and NMDA receptor antagonists to reduce neuroinflammation. 
• Diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes: Patients can adjust their diet and sleep habits for better nutrition and more rest. Many studies emphasize the benefits of exercise after a brain injury, with study subjects experiencing better neural repair, neural elasticity, and decreased neuroinflammation. 
• Plasmapheresis: This process can remove antibodies from the blood, which may be part of the autoimmune response to a breach in the blood-brain barrier. Plasmapheresis removes substances like antibodies from blood plasma. 
• Rehabilitation therapies: Patients may engage in speech, occupational, and other therapy treatments to minimize the neuroinflammation and its effects.

An exciting new frontier in neuroinflammation treatment involves nanomaterials. These products can be used to encapsulate medications and deliver them directly to the treatment site. A significant advantage of nanomaterials is that they can help drugs cross the blood-brain barrier, which otherwise would be unable to target the source of neuroinflammation. 

Speak With a Brain Injury Law Center Attorney Today

Our founder, Stephen M. Smith, has built a powerful team of traumatic brain injury lawyers that has an impressive success record, including a $10 million settlement for a traumatic brain injury client. We will build a robust case on your behalf to seek justice and compensation from those who caused your neuroinflammation. You do not have to face astronomical medical bills without financial relief when you have the Brain Injury Law Center on your side. 

We are ready to listen to your story and get to work. Call us today at (757) 244-7000 or send us a message online to arrange your free consultation. 

Related Resources