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Suggest Remedy For Memory Loss, Sleep Issues And Depression Post Head Injury

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Posted on Tue, 30 Jun 2015
Question: My husband sustained a kick to the head from a horse and since the accident of April 2014. The family has noticed increasing symptoms of memory loss, increased anxiety, sleep issues, depression, sensitivity to light, sleep issues, headaches and balance issues to the current day... Insurance says these symptoms are not related to the head injury but rather a pre-existing chronic micro vascular ischemia/multi infarct dementia.. This diagnosis came as a result of one CT scan done at the hospital at time of accident. My husband is 58, extremely active, fit, lean, non- smoker.... No family history of dementia and no prior issues with noted current symptoms. It just all has come as a shock to hear this. Could a medical advisor who is practicing as a GP see this type of diagnosis from one CT scan?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Head injury may also have such features

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Head injury may be associated with many features some of which are acute and some are chronic.
Memory impairment, decreased sleep, decreased concentration, behavioural abnormalities are common. Most of these features improves with time and may take months to years.
Age related dementia may also occur in some patients and is called as presenile dementia.
Some metabolic causes should be evaluated like vitamin B12, Thyroid profile, urea, creatinine, blood sugar, liver function.
Dementia is also associated with memory impairment.
Pre morbid conditions is usually assessed and compared to present state to comment regarding dementia with its effect on social and personal life.
I will advise you to consult a neurologist for proper evaluation, examination and investigation.
Some treatment is available which may be a hope.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neeraj Kumar (59 minutes later)
Is it possible that the kick to the head from a horse with steel hind shoes and then falling backwards full force on the back of the head set off dementia or would some conditions/detoriations already have to be present? He sustained a half of a large grapefruit size hematoma on the back of the head. Could such trauma start this? He was not unconscious but very close and extremely disoriented at the time. It has been just over a year since the injury...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
yes head injury may start dementia

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Aging is a continuous process and memory loss occurs with age.
This is first noticed when it significantly hampers one's life.
Any insult to brain may step up the memory deficit. It's not linear but a step up presentation.
Head injury in your husband was certainly significant and may initiate memory loss.
If your husband was asymptomatic before injury then definitely most of the deficit is due to dementia due to head injury.
You can consult a neurologist for proper examination.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Wishing you and your family good health. Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Neeraj Kumar (2 days later)
Thank you for your replies thus far.
Yes my husband was asymptomatic before the accident. Can noted memory impairment from an injury develop into dementia? Will the damage show in a scan or MRI? And is there medications available that will help with the symptoms?
I'm assuming that memory impairment or dementia is non-reversible after the initial head trauma and one can only hope that it stays the same and doesn't deteriorate.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
drugs are available.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes trauma can lead to memory impairment and such changes may be visible on Mri with time.
Treatment for dementia is also available which has some benefits. You should consult neurologist to evaluate regarding reversible causes of dementia like Vit B12, hypothyroidism and depression. Drugs like donepizil, memantine can be tried.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Neeraj Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Neeraj Kumar

Neurologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2259 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Memory Loss, Sleep Issues And Depression Post Head Injury

Brief Answer: Head injury may also have such features Detailed Answer: Hello, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns. Head injury may be associated with many features some of which are acute and some are chronic. Memory impairment, decreased sleep, decreased concentration, behavioural abnormalities are common. Most of these features improves with time and may take months to years. Age related dementia may also occur in some patients and is called as presenile dementia. Some metabolic causes should be evaluated like vitamin B12, Thyroid profile, urea, creatinine, blood sugar, liver function. Dementia is also associated with memory impairment. Pre morbid conditions is usually assessed and compared to present state to comment regarding dementia with its effect on social and personal life. I will advise you to consult a neurologist for proper evaluation, examination and investigation. Some treatment is available which may be a hope. Hope you found the answer helpful. Regards Dr Neeraj Kumar Neurologist