update on progesterone treatment
 

Hey Group,

First, take this info with a grain of salt. I have not verified this yet and this is coming from the medical doctor I see regarding my hormone treatment. My intention with this is not to give anyone false hope. Rather, I mean to simply inform you of the latest information I have heard.

I just saw my doctor again and he updated me on the progesterone research. Researchers just concluded a study of 100 acute traumatic brain injured patients with astounding results. I couldn't remember the specific stats on it, but the majority of patients were able to return to a normal life after treatment. One guy, who was thrown through his window into the street as a result of a car accident, was able to return to work as a software engineer after treatment. He said that his main concerns were not his brain but the pain he had in his joints and bones from being hurdled into the street...amazing.

The next phase is a 1000 person study that will be conducted across the country. Now, these studies are only being performed on acute (meaning short time period since injury) TBI's. However, researchers are currently gathering grant money to test progesterone on chronic brain injury as well as dementia and other neurological conditions in the near future. My doc said that from what he has read, researchers are cautiously optimistic that this could be the magic bullet researchers are looking for. Stay tuned...

Btw, I'm not sure what their parameters are for the study, but if you have had a brain injury in the last 6 months, you may qualify for one. I haven't done this yet, but I'm sure if you ran a google search, you could find one close in your area. Just a thought...

It sure would be great if your doctor would provide some references for us to check out. The only study I have found discusses the neuro-protective value of progesterone, not an healing value. Neuro-protective means that when there is an insult to the brain cells, the progesterone helps the cells endure the insult without sustaining damage.

Most damage from a concussion occurs in the days after the impact. This delayed damage is the target of progesterone research.

See the first article from 2006 at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/545573

A just published report (Dec. 22, 2009) is at:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Critical...adTrauma/17652
It mentions treatment at time of injury and for several days thereafter.

The trials that are planned or ongoing are designed to recruit participants at the Emergency Room since this is the first access to the newly injured.

The Emory University study of this past year used a Glascow Coma Scale of 4 to 12 as a qualifier for participation in the study. As a GCS of 12 is usually considered more than an MTBI or concussion, PCS subjects would not qualify.

It will be great when progesterone becomes a routine treatment for any concussion resulting in any depression of GCS score, even if for only a short duration and only immediately after the impact. Subjects with a history of a previous concussion would likely benefit as a preventative of second impact syndrome/multiple impact syndrome.

Mark,


You are referring to progesterone's ability to reduce brain inflamation and cease the cell death cascade that occurs after a brain injury. What you didn't mention is that researchers have discovered that progesterone has demonstrated ability to repair the mylien sheath that insulates the axon, which is the most common part of the neuron to be damaged in a concussion. This is the reason researchers are cautiously optimistic that it could help repair chronic brain injuries.

Once the research is concluded on progesterone treatment for acute brain injuries, researchers will begin branch studies to see what impacts it will have on other neurological conditions, such as chronic brain injury, dementia, stroke, etc... These are the studies that we would theoretically be eligible to participate in, and these are the studies I was referring to.