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Study finds that concussion increases odds of poor mental health and suicidal behaviors in adolescents
A study conducted by Jacob Kay et al. found that male and female teenagers who reported a history of concussion in the last year were at greater risk of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts than those who had not sustained a concussion in the previous year.
Connections between intimate partner violence, traumatic brain injury, and neurological disease–but not CTE
A recent study of the brains of 84 deceased women who experienced intimate partner violence found that the brains consistently showed signs of traumatic brain injury but that none met the criteria for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Brain injury associated with US Military training weapons
In a recent New York Times report, Dave Phillips brought attention to abundant evidence indicating that brain injuries and “serious and lasting harm” in veterans are related to their exposure to repetitive blasts from weapons used in training.
Blood biomarkers detect reduced brain structure volume associated with repetitive head impacts in professional boxers and MMA fighters
A study in Neurology Advisor found that for active and retired professional fighters exposed to repetitive head impacts, blood plasma measurements of the biomarkers GFAP and NfL “may help identify those who are at risk for progressive regional brain atrophy and cognitive decline.”
Study finds marker of functional brain activity and vasculature more accurate than ImPACT testing
A study found that these measures of blood oxygen variability (measured with fMRI) are significantly better at detecting concussion in athletes than widely used computerized cognitive diagnostic testing (i.e., ImPACT)
Excellent overview of vision therapy for concussion
Vision therapy may be valuable for those suffering vision problems after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Optometrist Maureen Oyaide-Ofenor explains the process of vision therapy in an article published in Optometry Times Journal.
Study Highlights the Importance of Delaying Return to Activities in Symptomatic Concussion Patients
A paper published in the Journal of Neurotrauma found that children with persistent symptoms had imaging “evidence of ongoing microstructural reorganization or neuroinflammation,” highlighting the importance of delaying a child’s return to play following a concussion if symptoms are persisting.
Medical Marijuana Might Have Benefits for PTSD Patients
A new pilot study from researchers Viddiparti et al. found that, over a 70-day period, medical marijuana use in 15 study participants significantly improved PTSD symptom severity and also produced a significant reduction in nightmares.
Heading in soccer has detrimental effects on microscopic brain tissue structure integrity
A recent study presented at the Radiological Society of North America found a significant decline in the microscopic structural integrity of brain tissue and a decline in verbal learning performance for young adult amateur soccer players who performed a high number of headers over two years.
Executive Dysfunction Unveiled: 7 Key Effects to Watch Out For After a Brain Injury
Most everyday tasks involve a type of thinking called executive function. These executive function skills are responsible for accomplishing tasks and problem-solving. When one experiences an injury to the brain, resulting executive dysfunction can make it challenging to navigate through everyday life.