A diet high in protein could be on the menu soon for those with brain injuries after the findings of a new study reported in the latest online edition of New Scientist magazine.

Akiva Cohen and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia simulated brain injuries on mice by drilling through their skills and injecting fluid into them.

One week later the mice with brain injuries had much lower levels of three BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) than control mice.

The brain-injured mice were then either given normal water or water enriched with BCAAs.

After five days the mice that had been given the BCAAs had normal levels of the amino acids and performed better on a learning task than those fed ordinary water.

These types of amino acids are found in foods high in protein such as fish and chicken and also contain muscle-building properties.

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