When some parts of the body heal, they can generate new cells. Your body can create scar tissue, for example, or new skin cells. Healing may take time, but the body has the ability to do it.
Your brain, on the other hand, largely does not. It is true that there are some specific brain cells that can be regenerated in very specific areas. But most brain cells can never be regenerated and are just lost if they are killed or damaged. Damage to enough cells can lead to significant issues like problems with memory, personality changes, lack of motor skills cognitive decline and much more.
New pathways sometimes form
So how does your brain actually heal? It does it by looking for different pathways for the electrical impulses that move between brain cells. This is how signals are passed between different parts of the brain, and the signals are carried to the brain through your nerves and spinal column.
When the brain finds new neural pathways, it can reestablish connections. Someone may have trouble with their balance or their memory immediately after a brain injury, but they may regain those abilities in the months to follow.
Naturally, though, the brain is not always able to find the neural pathways that it needs. In some cases, the damage is too extensive. Since the brain cannot regenerate most of its cells, this means that healing can come to an end before all of the connections are reforged. This can lead to permanent changes or disabilities, even with medical treatment.
These types of serious brain injuries can be suffered in car accidents, in workplace accidents and in many other ways. If you have been injured, you need to know exactly what legal steps to take to protect your future and your family.