Johns Hopkins: Shielding Body Protects Brain From “Shell Shock” Blast Injuries

Strong body armor to shield the chest, abdomen and back may be what soldiers need to better protect their brains from mild injuries tied to so-called “shell shock,” according to results of a Johns Hopkins study involving mice.

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Mild trauma, resulting from the initial shock of exploding mines, grenades and improvised explosive devices accounts for more than 80 percent of all brain injuries among U.S. troops.

Researchers found that a plexiglass covering around the torso of shocked mice fully protected them from any axonal nerve cell damage in critical parts of the brain responsible for body movement. Body armor also shielded mice from more than 80 percent of the axonal damage observed in the brain’s visual pathways, compared to mice wearing no body armor.

Read the hospital news release about body shields to prevent trauma.

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