Traumatic brain injuries are known to trigger a variety of symptoms

Now scientists at UCLA have discovered that a traumatic brain injury can result in the loss of a specific type of neuron, elevating the risk for Parkinson’s disease as well.

During a preclinical study, scientists found that a moderate traumatic brain injury in rats caused an initial 15 percent loss in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, and that these brain cells continued to decline after the injury, leading to a 30 percent loss 26 weeks later.

A lack in these specific neurons can result in the trademark motor problems found in Parkinson’s patients, including akinesia (problems with movement), postural tremor and rigidity. Furthermore, when combined with the pesticide paraquat — a second known risk factor for Parkinson’s — the loss of dopaminergic neurons climbed to 30 percent at a much faster rate.

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