Question:
If we can prevent one potential brain injury, that's worth doing," said Allen I. Bergman, the association's president and CEO. Not necessarily. It depends on the cost. If the cost of preventing that one brain injury is too large, then it's not worth doing. What exactly is the fair price we can put on protecting your brain?

Answer: The industry supports credible research, though Lovejoy said he is concerned that the Brain Injury Assn. is acting on Markey's request for a study and may be biased. The study will be funded by the nonprofit group.

"I'm concerned when an association gets drawn into the political agenda of a member of Congress," Lovejoy said. But attorney Anne C. Parrette, acting director of public policy for the Brain Injury Assn., said the industry is welcome to provide input and the two groups already have been in contact. "We are clearly a nonpartisan group and we work on both sides of the aisle," Parrette said. "Brain injury does not have a political bent. It's a condition that can happen to anyone at any time." A national research and advocacy group will launch the first in-depth study into the possible link between brain injuries and thrill rides in response to increasing concerns over roller-coaster safety since recent deaths at two California amusement parks.

The Brain Injury Assn.--a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that focuses on brain injuries, prevention and education--will examine 30 to 50 cases in which amusement park patrons are alleged to have suffered brain injuries ranging from headaches to fatal ruptured aneurysms after riding a roller coaster or other attractions.

"If we can prevent one potential brain injury, that's worth doing," said Allen I. Bergman, the association's president and CEO. "Brain injury is a silent epidemic. It is not on anybody's radar screen. For us, this is an opportunity to see if there's anything substantive here."