Following a closed-head injury, if cerebral perfusion pressure remains adequate but a patient exhibits persistent cognitive deficits, why does ongoing axonal dysfunction contribute to these long-term issues?

💡 Explanation

Axonal dysfunction after a concussion leads to secondary axotomy, causing Wallerian degeneration and further disconnecting neural circuits, because the initial injury triggers a cascade of cellular events. Therefore, cognitive deficits persist rather than resolve, despite adequate perfusion pressure and the presence of initial neuronal survival.

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