In a study published in the April issue of the journal Brain Injury, researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, have investigated the association between hormone levels after traumatic brain injury and recovery after rehabilitation.
Much previous research, going as far back as 1918, has shown hormonal abnormalities in up to 69% of patients after TBI. These abnormalities are usually caused by damage to the pituitary gland, which is a tiny, delicate structure situated at the base of the brain and acts as the control centre for the regulation of all the body's hormones. However, it is still unclear whether hormone replacement therapies could improve recovery after TBI.
The current study looked at 43 adult males with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury, admitted to an acute rehabilitation unit within six months of injury. On admission to rehabilitation, each of the participants had a blood test which measured the levels of various different hormones. The participants also received a test called the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), which they completed at both admission and eventual discharge from rehabilitation. The FIM measures levels of independence on a range of cognitive and physical items.
The results confirmed previous findings by showing that 60% of participants had at least one abnormal hormone value on admission. They also showed that, while the levels of most hormones did not coincide with performance on the FIM, levels of testosterone did. Lower than normal levels of testosterone were associated with lower FIM scores.
The researchers state that these data support the need for further studies into the benefits of testosterone therapy for males during rehabilitation after TBI.
Reference:
Carlson, et al. (2009) Hypogonadism on admission to acute rehabilitation is correlated with lower functional status on admission and discharge, Brain Injury, April 2009: 23(4): 336 - 344.
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