Abstract
With a worldwide incidence rate of almost 70 million annually, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent cause of both disability and death. Our modern understanding of the zinc-regulated neurochemical, cellular, and molecular mechanisms associated with TBI is the result of a continuum of research spanning more than three decades. This review describes the evolution of the field beginning with the initial landmark work on the toxicity of excess neuronal zinc accumulation after injury. It further shows how the field has expanded and shifted to include examination of the cellular pools of zinc after TBI, identification of the role of zinc in TBI-regulated gene expression and neurogenesis, and the use of zinc to prevent cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with brain injury.
Highlights
A recent meta-analysis estimated the worldwide incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI)to be approximately 69 million annually
While there have been many studies showing that chelation of zinc following neuronal injury can provide neuroprotection after injury, there has been a recent trend to examine the role that appropriately timed zinc supplementation may play in preventing poor outcomes associated with TBI
This review explores the continuum of TBI research that led investigators to first examine the potential benefits of zinc chelation and move on to the possible neuroprotective roles of zinc and an exploration of zinc supplementation to improve outcomes associated with TBI
Summary
A recent meta-analysis estimated the worldwide incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The most common consequence of TBI, major depression, is reported in all forms of TBI, including mTBI, and affects as many as 40% of individuals with brain injury [3,4]. While zinc clearly plays a deadly role in the acute neuronal response to injury, it is needed for longer-term reparative processes following injury including gene expression and neurogenesis. While there have been many studies showing that chelation of zinc following neuronal injury can provide neuroprotection after injury, there has been a recent trend to examine the role that appropriately timed zinc supplementation may play in preventing poor outcomes associated with TBI.
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