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.
Growth hormone replacement therapy for those with mild traumatic brain injury helped improve cognition, anxiety, and depression while reducing fatigue and sleep disturbances.
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.
Daily, early morning exposure to blue light therapy can help the healing process in people suffering from mild traumatic brain injury.
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.
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.
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.