New clinical trials that have just commenced at 5 hospitals in the U.K. will investigate the effect of the female sex hormone progesterone on persons with a traumatic brain injury. The trials are part of an international study into the use of the female sex hormone in the treatment of patients who have suffered a brain injury in motorcycle accidents and other types of accidents. Similar trials have been conducted in the United States too, and have found substantially higher healing rates among persons who were administered the hormone.
The researchers in this trial will use a synthetic version of the progesterone hormone called progestin. One group of subjects in the study will be administered the hormones, while the other group will be given a placebo. The researchers want to compare the healing rates between the two groups.
More than 1,200 people across the world are taking part in the international study called SyNAPSe, and results are not expected until at least 2-3 years. The researchers believe that the progesterone hormone contains healing properties that protect the brain cells after injury. This helps limit the extent of the injury, thereby accelerating the process of recovery. Researchers say that they are being cautious about the results of the trial, but are optimistic.
If the trials are successful, then Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers believe this opens up a brand-new avenue for treatment of traumatic brain injury. There have been no major advances in brain injury treatment, although there are a number of experimental studies in varying degrees of research, many of them being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Persons who are involved in a motorcycle accident may be at an especially high risk of traumatic brain injury. The risk of injury can be reduced, but not completely eliminated by wearing motorcycle helmets.
