Concussions could have lasting implications on sleep, a new study reports. People who experienced concussion reported sleep disturbances, daytime drowsiness, and fatigue that were persistent months after their injury. Read More
Researchers identified a specific neural network that positively responds to melatonin following concussion in children. Results suggest melatonin may help compensate for normal brain function that has been interrupted due to injury caused by concussion and helps prevent sleep disturbances. Read More
People who suffer repetitive head injuries experience increased symptoms of depression and a greater risk of cognitive decline as they age. Those with a history of repetitive head injuries and TBI that resulted in a loss of consciousness reported higher levels of mental health problems, including depressive symptoms. Read More
Even without a concussion, repetitive impacts experienced by those who play contact sports have clear effects on the brain. Rugby players who reported no concussions had alterations in the microstructure of the brain, specifically in the brain stem. Alterations in the functional organization of the brain were also discovered in MRI images of those who played contact sports. Read More
Varsity football players who experienced concussions performed well on cognitive tests but showed strong impairments in tests related to inhibitory control. Many reported problems with the ability to suppress thoughts, actions, and feelings following concussions. The findings shed light on the long-term implications of sports-related concussions. Read More
Growth hormone replacement therapy for those with mild traumatic brain injury helped improve cognition, anxiety, and depression while reducing fatigue and sleep disturbances. Read More
Alzheimer's patients who used antipsychotics had a 29% increased risk of head injury and a 22% higher risk of TBI compared to others with the neurodegenerative disease who did not use the medications. Read More
Daily, early morning exposure to blue light therapy can help the healing process in people suffering from mild traumatic brain injury. Read More
Male fruit flies fed a ketone supplemented diet expressed reduced levels of aggression following concussion than those who were not exposed to the dietary intervention. Read More
Traumatic brain injury caused five times as many neurons in the amygdala to be active during white noise exposure in rats. Altered sensory processing within subcortical sensory-emotional networks following TBI impacts the facilitation of traumatic memory and may contribute to the development of PTSD. Read More
It is well documented that professional boxing causes neurological impairment. A new study reveals routine sparring can cause short term impairments in brain-muscle communication and a decrease in memory performance. Read More
Longer career length and playing specific positions put NFL players at greater risk of developing cognitive problems and mental health issues. Playing for 10 or more seasons increased the risks for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment twice as much than those who played for a single season. For every five seasons of play, the risks increase 20% for cognitive impairment. Those most at risk are running backs, linebackers and those who played special teams positions. Read More
