Brain injuries in any patient are troublesome. For teens and adolescents, the effects of brain injuries can be devastating because the brain in children those ages are still developing. Effects like mental health issues, substance abuse and trouble in school are some of the possible results of a TBI in the teen years. That is what makes a recent study so troubling.
The study, which was published in PLOS ONE, suggests that teens who consume energy drinks are at an increased risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury. The study, which was based on the answers to questions given to 11 to 20 years old, found that teens who suffered a TBI while playing sports were twice as likely to have consumed energy drinks prior to the accident.
The link is very interesting, especially when you consider that energy drinks are known for temporary benefits like increased mental alertness, enhanced physical state and improved mood. These caffeinated drinks seem to be popular among athletes, partially because prominent athletes are often featured on the advertising for these drinks.
For the purpose of the study, a TBI was considered one that caused the victim to spend the night in the hospital or become unconscious for at least five minutes. Around 22 per cent of the students who completed the study noted that they had suffered a TBI meeting those requirements. Around half of the TBIs reported were sports injuries.
Any teen who suffers from a TBI might have serious effects. Seeking compensation for the injury if it was caused by negligence on someone else’s part might help to cover some of the costs associated with the care necessary after the brain injury.
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, “Study finds association between energy drinks and traumatic brain injury in teens,” Dr. Robert Mann, Sep. 16, 2015
