Citation

Keightley ML, Sinopoli KJ, Davis KD, Mikulis DJ, Wennberg R, Tartaglia MC, Chen JK, Tator CH. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 2014; 8: 139.

Affiliation

Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network and University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Frontiers Research Foundation)

DOI

10.3389/fnhum.2014.00139

PMID

24678292

PMCID

PMC3958726

Abstract

While generalized cerebral atrophy and neurodegenerative change following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is well recognized in adults, it remains comparatively understudied in the pediatric population, suggesting that research should address the potential for neurodegenerative change in children and youth following TBI. This focused review examines original research findings documenting evidence for neurodegenerative change following TBI of all severities in children and youth. Our relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria identified a total of 16 articles for review. Taken together, the studies reviewed suggest there is evidence for long-term neurodegenerative change following TBI in children and youth. In particular both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed volume loss in selected brain regions including the hippocampus, amygdala, globus pallidus, thalamus, periventricular white matter, cerebellum, and brain stem as well as overall decreased whole brain volume and increased CSF and ventricular space. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) studies also report evidence for decreased cellular integrity, particularly in the corpus callosum. Sensitivity of the hippocampus and deep limbic structures in pediatric populations are similar to findings in the adult literature and we consider the data supporting these changes as well as the need to investigate the possibility of neurodegenerative onset in childhood associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Language: en