Dendritic spine plasticity and traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions of people worldwide. TBI causes neural cell death and axonal injury. In addition, spared neurons from cell death in the injured brain may exhibit dendritic spine degeneration, mature spine loss, synapse loss, and impairment of synaptic activity. Neurons are specialized in processing information and communicating with one another through electrochemical message. Synapses are the connections between neurons where neural electrochemical transmission takes place. Synaptic plasticity involves in the formation and maintenance of a functional neural circuitry. Synaptic dysfunction contributes to functional impairments following TBI. Remodeling of pre-existing synapses and enhancing formation of new synapses may improve functional recovery in TBI. Further understanding of synaptic degeneration and plasticity will advance knowledge on mechanisms underlying functional deficits and recovery in TBI and lead to the development of novel treatments for TBI.