Reducing the Risk of Pathological Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the risk of pathological effects of traumatic brain injury.

1 . A method for reducing the risk of pathological effects of traumatic brain injury, comprising:
 (a) administering to a subject who is at risk of traumatic brain injury a composition comprising at least about 35 wt % docosahexaenoate (DHA), wherein the composition is administered in a prophylactically effective amount for a sufficient time period prior to engagement in an activity associated with a risk of traumatic brain injury to reduce the risk of pathological effects of traumatic brain injury, and wherein the composition has an eicosapentaenoate (EPA) content of less than about 2 wt % of the total fatty acid content.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the DHA is in the form of a triglyceride. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  in which the DHA is in the form of an alkylester. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  in which the DHA alkylester is a ethyl ester. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  in which the DHA alkylester is at least about 85 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  in which the DHA alkylester is about 85 to about 96 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  in which the DHA is at least about 40 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which the DHA is about 40 to about 50 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  in which the DHA is at least about 55 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  in which the DHA is about 55 to 65 wt % of the total fatty acid content of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  in which the DHA to EPA ratio is at least 10:1. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  in which the DHA to EPA ratio is at least 100:1. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  in which the traumatic brain injury is from a closed head injury. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  in which the composition is administered for at least 28 days prior to engaging in the activity associated with a risk of traumatic brain injury. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  in which the composition is administered for at least 6 weeks prior to engaging in the activity associated with a risk of for traumatic brain injury. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  in which the effective amount is a dose of about 10 mg/kg body weight/day to about 40 mg/kg body weight/day of DHA. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  in which the composition is an oral dosage form. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  in which the oral dosage form is a gelatin capsule. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  in which the gelatin capsule comprises from about 200 mg to about 1 g of DHA, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of protecting the brain of a human subject, the method comprising:
 administering to the subject, before an activity associated with a potential traumatic brain injuring event, an oral dosage form comprising at least 900 mg of DHA, wherein the dosage form comprises at least about 35 wt % docosahexaenoate (DHA) of the total fatty acid content, wherein the dosage form has an eicosapentaenoate (EPA) content of less than about 2 wt % of the total fatty acid content.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the activity associated with a potential traumatic brain injuring event is selected from the group consisting of boxing, football, soccer, hockey, aimed conflict, or brain surgery. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein protecting the brain of a subject is the prevention of the pathological effects of a concussion, or the reduction of the pathological effects associated with a concussion 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)