The young brain’s hidden weakness: When plasticity goes wrong
A study published in Experimental Neurology suggests that while younger brains are more plastic and adaptable, this flexibility may increase vulnerability to post-traumatic epilepsy following brain injuries. Researchers found that younger mice developed more severe seizure-producing networks compared to older mice after similar injuries.
Why it matters
This research challenges the common assumption that younger brains are universally more resilient to trauma, potentially changing how medical professionals approach pediatric brain injury recovery.
The young brain’s hidden weakness: When plasticity goes wrong Young brains are flexible. They adapt and form new connections easily. When something goes wrong, the thinking goes, a younger brain has more room to reorganise itself and compensate for damage.
But that same flexibility may also have a downside after traumatic brain injury — damage to the brain caused by an external force, such as a fall, car accident, sports injury or blow to the head, according to a study published in Experimental Neurology.
"People may assume younger brains are more resilient after injury, but our findings suggest the story is much more nuanced," said Samba Reddy, of neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the Texas A&M Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine and senior author of the study.
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