Why is damage to the brain permanent?

Answer 1

Damage to these areas can affect thought processing, sensation and/or motor control of the body and so is obviously serious. The reason is is usually permanent is that the neurones do not really get replaces. For the most part, brain and spinal cord nerves do not regenerate. There is new evidence that suggests that they do, but the evidence and consistency of results are not well understood at this point.

The other reason that they seem to be permanent injuries is because one of the nucj=knmaes for the brain and spinal cord is the vital nervous system.

Answer 2

The following may all potentially cause permanent brain damage:

Hypoxia / Anoxia

The brain uses approximately 20% of the bodies total oxygen intake, which is used to make glucose, the brain's major source of energy. If the brain's supply of oxygen is totally disrupted (anoxia) then brain function can be affected extremely quickly (loss of consciousness can occur in less than 15 seconds) and permanent brain damage begins to occur after around 4 minutes.

If the supply of oxygen to the brain is partially reduced to a point where normal functioning does not occur this is known as hypoxia.

There are a large number of conditions or environmental effects that can cause anoxia such as cardiac arrest, exposure to high altitudes, suffocation, near drowning and smoke inhalation amongst many others. For further information please see the section entitled "Hypoxic and anoxic brain injury" in the related links.

A head injury

A head injury that causes damage to the brain due to trauma such as a blunt impact is known as Traumatic Brain Injury. The initial damage is caused by the external impact or crushing event and further damage can be caused by the brain becoming swollen or bleeding. For more detailed information on this, see the related link entitled "About traumatic brain injury".

Stroke

A stroke is caused by a disruption of blood supply to a part of the brain. This starves that portion of the brain of oxygen and causes the brain cells to start to die.

Brain aneurysm and haemorrhage

An aneurysm occurs where the wall of an artery is weakened. This weakened area can in turn swell like a blister and apply pressure to surrounding tissue causing damage.

If the weakened tissue of the artery fails then a brain haemorrhage occurs. This is bleeding in or around the brain and can put pressure on surrounding tissue causing damage as well as causing a loss of oxygen supply to a portion of the brain sue to the altered blood supply which can in turn cause damage to the brain.

A brain haemorrhage may also be known as a haemorrhagic stroke.

Viral or bacterial infection

These may cause swelling of the brain or the lining around the brain and spinal cord, conditions known as encephalitis and meningitis respectively. Both of these can cause damage to brain cells which may be permanent.

Brain tumour

Tarmours are growths caused by an abnormally high rate of cell division.

There are two main types. Malignant and benign tumours. Malignant, or cancerous, tumours will invade surrounding tissue causing damage. Benign tumours however do not "attack" other tissue or spread, but can cause damage as they grow by applying pressure to the surrounding brain tissue.

Alcohol and drug abuse

The abuse of legal and or illegal drugs can cause damage to nerve cells in the brain which can ultimately lead to permanent brain damage.

Neurodegenerative DiseasesVarious dementias make up most of this category. Alzheimer's Dementia comprises two thirds of all dementias. Vascular dementias (including post-stroke dementias, Binswanger's Disease, lacunar infacts, etc.) make up one quarter of all dementias. Then there are dementias due to Parkinson's Disease as well as Huntingon's Disease, in addition to Lewy body dementia. Normal pressure hydrocephalus characteristically leads to dementia as time and age progress. Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease and kuru account for less than 1% of all neurodegenrative diseases. And there are several more minor conditions, too.

For further information on some of the causes of brain damage please view the related link to the British charity Headway which was founded to support people suffering from brain injury.

Answer 3

This site will definitely help answer your question: http://Alcoholism.about.com/od/brain/Brain_Damage_and_Alcohol_Consumption.htm. It explains how alcohol can be related to:

• brain damage and memory loss
• more female brain damage than men
• young adult drinkers and brain size
• low levels of brain histamine
• brain damage compounded by smoking

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 4

Damage to the central nervous system is almost always permanent. Chances of recovering from central nervous system damage are very, very slim and hardly, if ever, happen.

Answer 5

it can affect anything that is a voluntary response such as senses nerves digesting blood circulation breathing. it can effect anything and with most of those u will die

Answer 6

Damage to the brain and spinal cord is permanent because the nerve cells do not regenerate like in the other parts of the body.