Other causes of a Brain Injury

Here are some other causes of brain injury.

Tumours

A brain tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue inside the skull. There are two types of brain tumour, malignant and benign.

Malignant or cancerous

These tumours often invade surrounding tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood stream or lymphatic system.  Malignant tumours often grow and spread rapidly and erode healthy tissue.  Sometimes brain tumours are the result of other malignant tumours in other parts of the body that have spread to the brain, these are known as secondary tumours.

Benign or non cancerous

These brain tumours tend to grow more slowly and do not spread although people can have more than one tumour.  A benign brain tumour can put pressure on the brain as it grows inside the enclosed space of the skull and this may compress and damage healthy tissue.

Degenerative Diseases

These are some of the more common diseases that cause a brain injury.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Huntington’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease

Alzheimer’s 

Infection of the Brain

Infections of the brain can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or occasionally parasites.  Infections can also cause inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord – called Meningitis.

Bacteria and other infectious organisms can reach the brain and its layers of tissue by being carried in the blood, enter through a skull fracture or through surgery.

Alcohol/Drugs and Brain Injury

• Alcohol changes the metabolism, which effects heart function and blood supply.
• Alcohol has a toxic effect on the central nervous system.
• Alcohol interferes with the absorption of Vitamin B1, which is an important brain nutrient.
• Alcohol and drugs can lead to falls and accidents that injure the brain.
• Drugs can negatively impact the brain and cause the death of its cells.