Craig Rosenbaum | September 21, 2016 | Brain Injury

Most news stories focus on the fact that Zika can cause birth defects if an infected mosquito bites a woman who is pregnant. But researchers from Rockefeller University found that the Zika virus might also affect adult human brain cells. Unfortunately, there is not yet a cure for Zika however this post can discuss the potential health effects and methods to avoid possible infection

Zika is a virus that is transmitted via mosquito bites. It first arose in South America and then leapfrogged across the Caribbean into Florida and several other U.S. states. There is mounting evidence that the Zika virus causes brain abnormalities in developing fetuses. Rockefeller researchers took this one step further and found that individual adult brain cells might also be vulnerable to infection, specifically, the neurons responsible for memory and learning.

This is the first study on the effect on adult brain cells. Luckily, the effects on adult brains aren’t nearly as pronounced, but the researchers warn that the effects could be more subtle and insidious. It is believed that Zika could cause microcephaly, Guillian-Barre syndrome, and other dangerous neurological conditions.

The researchers stress that these findings are preliminary, and additional tests are required. Moreover, the tools do not yet exist to test the long-term effects on adult stem cells properly.

Brain injuries are insidious. As you can see, even when doctors know the cause of the brain injury, they may not have a solution or the tools to solve it. If you suffered a brain injury due to an accident, then you may want to speak to a lawyer. The brain is poorly understood by science and so you will need all of the money you can get to ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover medical expenses, therapies, and anything else that is required for your care. A lawyer can help you prepare for the future.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in New York City

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Manhattan, NY, and need legal help, contact our New York City personal injury lawyers at Rosenbaum & Rosenbaum, P.C. to schedule a free consultation.

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