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ShareJuly 20, 2010 — Soldiers who receive traumatic brain injuries during war may be at a higher risk of epilepsy even decades after the brain injury occurred. The new research is published in the July 20, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
"Given the better chances of survival in soldiers fighting in conflicts today, our research suggests that all veterans with a traumatic brain injury should be routinely screened for post-traumatic epilepsy, even decades after the injury," said study author Jordan Grafman, PhD, of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Md.
Post-traumatic epilepsy is the most common cause of new-onset epilepsy in young adults, with nearly 30,000 new cases per year in the United States.
For the study, researchers asked 199 veterans who experienced a brain injury 35 years prior whether they ever had a seizure. They were also given intelligence tests. The group underwent scans to detect brain lesions.
Of the 199 people, about 44 percent developed post-traumatic epilepsy.
"For a surprising 13 percent, the post-traumatic epilepsy didn't show up until more than 14 years after the brain injury," said Grafman. "This research strongly suggests that veterans with brain injury will require long-term neurology care."
The study also found that the type of seizure changed over time, often becoming more severe (or causing loss of consciousness).
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology.
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Journal Reference:
- V. Raymont, A.M. Salazar, R. Lipsky, D. Goldman, G. Tasick, and J. Grafman. Correlates of posttraumatic epilepsy 35 years following combat brain injury. Neurology, 2010; 75: 224-229 [link]
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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