People who have been involved in serious car accidents in Rhode Island often suffer from traumatic brain injuries. According to new research, these TBIs may result in car accident victims' brains aging at an accelerated rate. The study on the effects of TBI was led by a doctor in the United Kingdom and published in the April issue of the Annals of Neurology.

During the study, researchers viewed the brain scans of 99 people who had sustained a TBI. The brain scans that researchers looked at were taken anywhere from one month to 46 years after the people suffered from their brain injuries. Researchers compared these brain scans to the brain scans of people who had not suffered from such a brain trauma.

What researchers discovered was that the brains of people who had suffered from a TBI appeared older than their actual age. Brain scans of people with a TBI looked about five years older than they should look without the injury, according to researchers. The information that was gathered during the study could explain why some people develop dementia at an earlier age after being involved in a serious accident. The researchers are reportedly planning to do a further study to look into brain age so that people with a high risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases can be given preventative treatment.

A person who has been injured in a motor vehicle collision that was caused by the negligence of another driver may not be immediately aware of the long-term impact that a brain injury will have on their life. A lawyer may be able to help someone in this situation to file a claim for the full extent of the current and future financial damages.