Sometimes when you experience an injury, you may not be aware of the long-term effects of that injury. It is important if you feel your medical malpractice case that you understand such situations. One example is if you suffer a brain injury as a result of a doctor’s negligence and start a malpractice claim in Washington, then you need to be aware of the possible link between such injuries and Parkinson’s disease. This will be important as you navigate your claim.
Time explains that medical experts have found a link between brain injuries and Parkinson’s disease. What is perhaps most alarming is that the brain injury does not have to be severe. Even mild injuries can increase your risk for developing Parkinson’s. It is worth noting that the more severe the injury, the higher the increase in the risk of Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition. It affects your ability to control body movements and body functions. It generally is a condition found in older individuals.
While you may not start seeing signs of the disease right away after a brain injury, you should know that having the injury increases the overall chances that you will eventually develop Parkinson’s. The study that brought about this link looked specifically at veterans, but the general population is assumed to have the same risks.
In the study, it was shown that 65% of the people who developed the disease had a prior brain injury. Some of the individuals in the study had no brain injury history and make up the remaining percentage of those who developed the disease. This information is for education and is not legal advice.