New Study Reveals Hidden Awareness in Some Brain-Damaged Patients
Some brain-damaged patients who are thought to be in vegetative or minimally conscious states may actually have some level of awareness, according to new research. After suffering severe brain injuries from incidents like car accidents or falls, some people enter a coma with no response from their bodies. While some recover, others may remain with open eyes but without clear signs of consciousness, often for many years.
In the United States, hundreds of thousands of such patients are diagnosed as either vegetative or minimally conscious, leaving families and medical professionals grappling with the uncertainty of whether these individuals have any awareness.
A recent study suggests that about 25% of these patients may have some level of consciousness. Neurologists from six research centers conducted tests on 241 unresponsive patients, asking them to perform complex cognitive tasks like imagining themselves playing tennis. A quarter of these patients showed brain activity patterns similar to those of healthy individuals, indicating they were able to think and had some awareness. Dr. Nicholas Schiff, a neurologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-author of the study, estimated that up to 100,000 patients in the United States might have some consciousness despite their severe injuries.
This discovery highlights the need for more advanced examinations for patients with disorders of consciousness and further research into ways they might communicate. Dr. Schiff emphasized that this knowledge demands action: "It’s not OK to know this and to do nothing."
Traditionally, neurologists have diagnosed consciousness in brain injury patients through bedside exams, asking them to perform simple tasks like speaking or moving. Patients who don’t respond may be classified as vegetative, while those who show minimal, brief responses may be labeled as minimally conscious.