Mechanisms of neurodegeneration after paediatric brain injury.

Trauma to the developing brain constitutes an unexplored field. The few studies attempting to model and study paediatric head trauma, the leading cause of death and disability in the paediatric population, have revealed interesting aspects and potential targets for future research. One feature unique to the developing brain is overactivation by trauma of ongoing physiological programmed neuronal death (apoptosis). Understanding the underlying biochemical and molecular pathomechanisms may help set new pharmacotherapeutic targets for neuroprotection at an early age.