We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study 2 patients with traumatic brain injury. The first patient recovered reliable expressive language after 19 years in a minimally conscious state (MCS); the second had remained in MCS for 6 years. Comparison of white matter integrity in the patients and 20 normal subjects using histograms of apparent diffusion constants and diffusion anisotropy identified widespread altered diffusivity and decreased anisotropy in the damaged white matter. These findings remained unchanged over an 18-month interval between 2 studies in the first patient. In addition, in this patient, we identified large, bilateral regions of posterior white matter with significantly increased anisotropy that reduced over 18 months. In contrast, notable increases in anisotropy within the midline cerebellar white matter in the second study correlated with marked clinical improvements in motor functions. This finding was further correlated with an increase in resting metabolism measured by PET in this subregion. Aberrant white matter structures were evident in the second patient’s DTI images but were not clinically correlated. We propose that axonal regrowth may underlie these findings and provide a biological mechanism for late recovery. Our results are discussed in the context of recent experimental studies that support this inference.
The above article was cited by a second JCI study titled Tracking the recovery of consciousness from coma. At the end of the abstract is this statement: "This case shows that old dogmas need to be oppugned [= called into question / fought against], as recovery with meaningful reduction in disability continued in this case for nearly 2 decades after extremely severe traumatic brain injury."
Iow, the "old dogmas" that need to be tossed out are that severe brain injuries will never get better. This is a case where the brain significantly healed itself long after those old dogmas said "give up."
IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING DISABLED, DON'T MOVE TO FLORIDA. IT MAY BE YOUR LAST MOVE.