Author Archives: David Taylor

About David Taylor

Dr. Taylor is a graduate of NUHS. He became board certified in neurology in 1992 and has 30 years of clinical experience as the director of an interdisciplinary clinic in Massachusetts. He has served as Director of Clinics and Attending Clinician at TCC and currently serves on faculty there. In addition he was appointed by 2 governors and served as secretary on the Massachusetts Chiropractic Licensing Board. He is a fellow of the FCLB, served as test evaluator and examiner for the NBCE, and has participated in the generation of the Chiropractic Best Practices document as a member of the CCGPP. He is published in many peer reviewed and professional trade journals and has lectured nationally and internationally. He was 1 of only 2 DC’s in the state of Massachusetts credentialed as an impartial examiner for the Industrial Accidents Board and currently is one of a handful of health care practitioners in Houston that is Certified as a Medical Examiner by the federal DOT. In addition, he continues as president of Healthcare Review & Consulting, Inc. His interests are in pain management, concussion management, quality assurance and standards of care.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury? Don’t forget the Sugar!

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Take Home Message:

  • A 2015 study of cerebral metabolism post traumatic brain injury reported the need for glucose intake following injury due to disruption in mitochondrial glycolysis and attempts at compensatory increased gluconeogenesis .
  • Earlier studies demonstrated mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased ATP synthesis.  This accounts for the decreased train of thought and cognitive fatigue.
  • Advising patients of the need for keeping glucose levels at a normal level will prevent secondary cellular death and sequel.

Abstract:

SugarBecause it is the product of glycolysis and main substrate for mitochondrial respiration, lactate is the central metabolic intermediate in cerebral energy substrate delivery. Our recent studies on healthy controls and patients following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using [6,6(2)H2]glucose and [3(13)C]lactate, along with cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterialvenous (jugular bulb) difference measurements for oxygen, metabolite levels, isotopic enrichments and (13)CO2 show a massive and previously unrecognized mobilization of lactate from corporeal (muscle, skin, and other)glycogen reserves in TBI patients who were studied 5.7 ± 2.2 days after injury at which time brain oxygen consumption and glucose uptake (CMRO2 and CMRgluc, respectively) were depressed. By tracking the incorporation of the (13)C from lactate tracer we found that gluconeogenesis (GNG) from lactate accounted for 67.1 ± 6.9%, of wholebody glucose appearance rate (Ra) in TBI, which was compared to 15.2 ± 2.8% (mean ± SD, respectively) in healthy, well nourished controls. Standard of care treatment of TBI patients in state of the art facilities by talented and dedicated heath care professionals reveals presence of a catabolic Body Energy State (BES).

Results are interpreted to mean that additional nutritive support is required to fuel the body and brain following TBI. Use of a diagnostic to monitor BES to provide health care professionals with actionable data in providing nutritive formulations to fuel the body and brain and achieve exquisite glycemic control are discussed. In particular, the advantages of using inorganic and organic lactate salts, esters and other compounds are examined. To date, several investigations on brain injured patients with intact hepatic and renal functions show that compared to dextrose + insulin treatment, exogenous lactate infusion results in normal glycemia.

Citation

Brooks GA, Martin NA. Cerebral metabolism following traumatic brain injury: new discoveries with implications for treatment. Front Neurosci. 2015 Feb 9;8:408

 Link to the article in Pub Med

International Collaboration on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Findings on Prognosis

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TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

Literature summary on mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions) revealed that the largest prognostic factors for outcome from mTBI are psychosocial vs biomedicall or clinical factors. Since 24% of all motor vehicle injuries involve mTBI and there are many other injuries being concurrently cared for, “Chiropractors can facilitate a path to good recovery for mTBI patients through early education, positive reassurance and providing treatment to reduce associated spine and head pain” to decrease pain induced psychosocial factors.

Abstract

Concussion mTBIIn 2004, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Neurotrauma, Prevention, Management and Rehabilitation Task Force published the first large systematic review and best evidence synthesis on the clinical course and prognosis for recovery after MTBI. Ten years later, the International Collaboration on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Prognosis (ICoMP)  formed to update the original WHO Task Force results. This summary review highlights important clinical findings from the full ICoMP results including the current evidence on the course and prognosis of recovery after MTBI in diverse patient populations (e.g., adults, athletes and children) and injury environments (e.g., motor vehicle collisions) as well as on the risk of long-term outcomes after MTBI, such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Additional clinical areas of interest in MTBI are also discussed including the similarities between MTBI and othertraumatic injuries and the risk of Second Impact Syndrome after sport concussion. Clinicians can use this information to help inform patients on the likely course of recovery after MTBI/concussion and guide better decision-making in the care of these patients.

Citation

Donovan et al. Summary of the findings of the International Collaboration on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Prognosis, Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2014, 22;38