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.
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.
Former NFL players who received a concussion while playing are more likely to report low testosterone and erectile dysfunction. Researchers speculate the reason could be damage to the pituitary gland caused by concussion may spark a cascade of hormonal changes.
Sustained hits following one season of playing football are enough to cause structural alterations to the brain. When players sustain a concussion, structural brain integrity decreases, and levels of tau increase. Researchers say, while concussions are a prime concern for those who play football, sustained hits also pose a threat to neurological health.
Side impact to the head can lead to rotational accelerations what cause mechanical vibrations to concentrate in the corpus callosum and periventricular region of the brain. Trauma to the side of the head can lead to concussions.
A new study identifies specific consumer products related to non-fatal brain injuries in children between the ages of 0 to 19. For infants, the leading cause of head injury is falling from beds, while in the teenage group, sporting equipment was the leading cause of TBI.
Over 50% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury reported their sense of smell was diminished following concussion. The effect does not appear to be long term.
Low-field magnetic stimulation (LFMS), a new, non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation technique, may help improve neurological symptoms following concussion.
PET imaging of former NFL players who exhibited cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms linked to CTE showed higher levels of tau in areas of the brain associated with the neurodegenerative disease.
A new study reports teenage athletes who suffered concussion while playing sport recovered faster when they participated in a supervised aerobic exercise program.
Researchers report 1 in 5 people are at risk of experiencing mental health conditions, such as PTSD or major depressive disorder, within 6 months of suffering mTBI.
A new study sheds light on why repeated concussions may contribute to the development of seizures.
