Retired football players who experienced concussions during their careers performed worse on cognitive tests than non-players. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that suggests head injuries experienced by football players accelerate cognitive aging. Researchers say the results underlie the importance of tracking concussion symptoms in football players as opposed to concussion diagnosis.
White matter hyperintensities were more common in athletes who played more contact sports or had more head injuries and concussions during their sporting careers.
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.
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.
Researchers say a single season of playing high school football is all it takes to cause microscopic alterations to the structure of the brain.
A new study reveals veterans who suffered a concussion are at a 56% increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Following just one season, children who have a history of concussion and high impact exposure as a result playing football undergo significant brain changes, researchers report.
A new study reviews how demands for institutional change led the NFL to change its ideology and engage in advocacy to address football related concussion.
Researchers studied 97 football players between the ages of 9 and 13 years and found players experienced a total of 40,538 head impacts during four seasons of football games and practices. Significant differences in head impacts were seen between those in the games and practices.
Summary: A new brain modelling study that looks at what happens to the brains of NFL players following a collision...
Researchers observe white matter changes in NFL football players who reported concussions.
After just one season of playing football, neuroimaging technology reveals changes in gray and white matter correlated with exposure to head trauma in high school students, a new study reports.