Magnesium and Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the extremes that has been associated with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is the general public health burden with the most significant implication in terms of serious morbidity and mortality. In spite of the fact that medicine is constantly improving, the problem of TBI treatment still is the most complicated and is very poorly solved in our health-care system. With increasing interest in recent years about the protective effects of magnesium in TBIs against neurodegeneration, this potential is certainly noteworthy. This part of the chapter is meant to provide an in-depth look at magnesium in the course of TBI pathophysiology and management. It explores the pathways by which magnesium is able to provide this neuroprotection and features such properties as anti-inflammation and anti-excitotoxicity. Along with this, the chapter exhibits the results from preclinical and clinical trials that buffer the neuronal damage instigated by TBI, and thus, a better outcome is observed. Other than that, the chapter emphasizes the outcome of the preclinical and clinical studies which demonstrated the ability of magnesium to mitigate the neuronal damages resulting from TBI and majorly lead to an improved prognosis. Not only does it concentrate on issues that surround the translation of preclinical findings to clinical context regarding the administration of magnesium, including the most appropriate dose and time of administration, but also it highlights the limitations. In general, this chapter reveals the multiple diagnostic points of magnesium as a possible remedy for TBI and points out the necessity of the next studies to clarify its exact mechanisms of action and augment the clinical efficacy.