TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is usually the result of a sudden or violent blow to the head. The skull itself can often withstand a forceful external impact without fracturing. The result -- an injured brain inside an unfractured skull -- is known as a closed-head injury. A brain injury may also occur when a projectile, such as a bullet, rock or fragment of a fractured skull, actually penetrates the brain. This type of injury is far less common than closed-head injury.

The severity of brain injuries can vary greatly depending on the part of the brain affected and the extent of the damage. More than 1 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year. Luckily, more than 75 percent of these injuries are mild concussions. But even minor brain injuries can cause long-term problems. An estimated 55,000 people die each year from brain injuries.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

MILD TBI: Headache, mental confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, double vision, blurred vision, or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention

MODERATE or SEVERE TBI: Loss of consciousness, personality change, a severe, persistent, or worsening headache, repeated vomiting or nausea, seizures, inability to awaken, dilation (widening) of one or both pupils, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and/or increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

NEW TREATMENT RESEARCH: Progesterone is a natural hormone made in the brain. About 17 years ago, Donald Stein, Ph.D., discovered the neuroprotective properties of progesterone. His research revealed male and female rats with brain injury had less swelling and more complete recoveries when they received progesterone after their injury.

In 2004, researchers at Emory University in Atlanta launched a study of 100 patients to look at the effects of progesterone in humans. David Wright, M.D., says, "Our findings, first and foremost, were that it appeared to be safe in the small number of patients we studied. We didn't find any increase in significant adverse events or adverse events between the group that didn't get progesterone and the group that did." They also found the mortality rate in the severe head injury group dropped 50 percent, and the moderate group had fewer functional disabilities.

Dr. Wright says there were relatively few side effects, and the cost of the medicine is low. He hopes the larger study will be launched nationally in 2007, involving more than 1,000 patients.