Concussions can teach researchers a great deal about how the brain recovers after injury and offer insights into how people can promote brain health throughout their lives.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is often assumed to be a disease which develops later in life, but a new study clearly shows it can start early in the brains of young athletes.
Many concussions in soccer occur when two players compete to head the ball. But extra technique training, modifying how we play the game, and more ‘red cards’ help cut the risk.
The genetic evidence behind why some people suffer longer term concussion effects is growing. But what are the ethical considerations that flow from that knowledge when it comes to sport?
Some First Nations women who sustain head injuries from family violence don’t access health care and support. We studied why and found one reason is a fear their children will be taken away.
David Howell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
While high-profile concussions in the NFL have brought renewed attention to the gravity of head injuries, they can also occur on the playground or during junior varsity practices – with lasting effects.
Canadian researchers are exploring unanswered questions about concussion: How to diagnose it accurately and quickly, how to predict outcomes and promote recovery, and how to prevent it altogether.
For many years, concussion treatment followed a rest-is-best approach. But research now suggests that low-to-moderate intensity exercise is a safe and useful approach to managing concussion symptoms.
Jeanne Paz, University of California, San Francisco
The molecule C1q has both protective and detrimental effects after traumatic brain injury. Blocking it after injury in mice restored normal brain rhythms during sleep and prevented epileptic spikes.