Car accidents are a common cause of brain injuries

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• Treatment costly, long-term
• Half of all injuries related to alcohol
• Related stories and sites

BETHESDA, Maryland (CNN) -- Victims of traumatic brain injury have a chance to resume active lives, if they get specialized rehabilitation that can actually retrain their brains, a government panel concluded Wednesday.

Up to 2 million Americans suffer brain trauma each year, mostly from car crashes, falls, violence, and sports accidents. About 90,000 of them have severe brain damage that causes long-term debilitation. Many more are unaware they've been injured, and experience more subtle symptoms like disorientation, headaches, memory loss, and personality changes.

The comprehensive treatment can be costly

Doctors have long debated the best way to treat such injuries, and an National Institutes of Health panel has just wrapped a year-long study of the issue, requested by Congress. The panel found the best care is comprehensive treatment, including cognitive, physical, and social rehabilitation tailored to the individual patient.

Treatment costly, long-term

The panel admits such treatment could be costly, and take years to complete. Some insurance policies won't cover such long-term care, and rehabilitation may be unavailable in rural areas.

"We can only state what is appropriate care and hope it gets funded," said panel chairman Dr. Kristjan Ragnarsson of New York's Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "We know we cannot cure this condition. But there are treatments."

"The brain seems to have a remarkable capacity to heal if given the right opportunities," said Dr. Bruce Wexler of Yale University.

Researchers say long-term care is often needed

Half of all injuries related to alcohol

Computer programs that help patients track moving objects can improve attention span, while other simple exercises improve the brain's higher learning sections, Wexler said.

The panel is calling for more research, as well as long-term support for victims, aimed at boosting their self-esteem.

It said primary care physicians should be better equipped to spot subtle brain injures and more efforts should go into preventing them. Half of all brain injuries are related to alcohol use, according to the panel, and many other accidents could be avoided by wearing helmets when biking or skating.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.