New evidence related to Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) can now be linked to people who experience homelessness. Veterans, who account for one-third of the homeless, tend to be the common denominator when it comes to the relationship between homelessness and brain injuries.
Dr. Mark L. Gordon, an endocrinologist with experience in the area of TBIs with the Millennium Health Centers, has partnered with the Warrior Angels Foundation to successfully treat over 100 veterans suffering from TBIs. The partnership has also led to detailed research and surveying of homeless people in the United States which has revealed that there is a probable relationship between homelessness and TBIs.
Homeless In America Statistics:
- 69% of homeless citizens said they had been in a car accident
- 77% asserted they had fallen off a roof or out of a tree, etc.
- 74% reported they had been mugged
- 75% declared they had been beaten up or hit very hard in the head
- 80% said they had been hit hard enough to “see stars” or get their “bell rung” and confused with headaches and general irritability
In Search of Causes & Cures
Dr. Gordon, Richard Troxell (House the Homeless), and John Lozier (National Health Care for the Homeless) are working together to identify and explore treatment of TBIs and how it directly affects homelessness. Dr. Gordon believes that TBIs are a “causative factor for accelerated hormonal deficiencies” such as depression, anger outbursts, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, inability to concentrate, learning disabilities, and strokes. When searching for an origin, Dr. Gordon is looking at the pituitary gland, which is found at the base of the brain, and is considered the master gland and controls many other functions. Studies have shown that between 50-75% of veterans with TBIs show some loss of pituitary function after the injury.
A potential solution for people suffering from TBIs which has proven to improve the hemostatic state of the individual even years after the initial injury is restoring the hormones (neuro-steroids and neuro-active steroids) to their pre-injury level. Dr. Gordon has said that these types of procedures have shown a 50-100% improvement in the individual.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35% of all TBIs can be attributed to falling, 17% to Traffic accidents, 16% to striking or striking into another object, and 10% caused by assault. Brain Injuries can cause serious damage to a person's mental and physical well being. Traffic accidents, according to the CDC, are the leading cause of death related to brain injuries. Often times, TBIs cause hidden symptoms that don't immediately present themselves. If you or somebody you know has been involved in an accident that may have caused slight to severe damage to the head, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys understand the seriousness of head injuries and will get you the assistance you need to recover from the accident. Call us today, 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.