Renowned light therapy researchers Dr. Laura Martin, Dr. Margaret Naeser, and Dr. Michael Ho are currently recruiting study participants for a studies that aims to see if light therapy can improve thinking and memory in people who have suffered one or more traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, and who are experiencing persistent symptoms.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can only be diagnosed after death via autopsy. However, according to new research published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, MRIs may soon detect CTE in people still alive, allowing doctors to make an earlier diagnosis.

A study found that the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) symptom scores can be converted to Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) scores. “Being able to convert between the two scores would facilitate comparison of results in the concussion literature.”

Gregory Tierney published a review on concussion biomechanics, head acceleration events (HAE), and brain injury criteria in Taylor & Francis Online. Tierney pooled data from past studies to understand the relationship between the kinematic magnitude and rotational nature of HAE and damage to the brain.

Researchers found decreased gray matter thickness in the frontal and temporal brain lobes of those who’d had COVID-19 compared to those who had not had the virus. The researchers also found that, based on “performance on cognitive tasks,” those who had contracted COVID-19 were slower in processing information (the primary function of gray matter in the brain).

Neurologists are frequently the providers tasked with making a differential diagnosis for patients with concussions and those with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). Leaders of the concussion field, including Dr. John Leddy and Concussion Alliance Advisory Board Member Dr. Barry Willer, have written a review, Clinical Assessment of Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms for Neurologists.

To help Nebraska teachers take care of their students who sustain a concussion, the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska and the Nebraska Concussion Coalition have contracted for a state-wide subscription to the Get Schooled on Concussions program. According to an NPR article, “Based on a 2018 survey, 50 percent of Nebraska teachers surveyed said they don’t know how to take care of students with concussions.”

In a breakthrough study led by Georg Meisl, scientists at the University of Cambridge found that targeting the local replication of harmful tau protein clusters in the brain could be a key component in finding more effective treatment methods for Alzheimer’s.

A study found a dramatic increase — more than 200% — in sports-related head injuries among female athletes ages 14-18” between 2000-2019. Moreover, the study also found that adolescent women who play soccer, basketball, cheerleading, softball, and volleyball are the most likely to be admitted to the emergency room (ER) with a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

Researchers found that overparenting was associated with higher anxiety and stress for patients post-concussion and had a small yet significant correlation with longer recovery times. Further, higher emotional distress levels in patients were associated with worse clinical outcomes.

The study found an association between repeated concussions in rugby and having mental health issues – such as increased irritability, depression, and extreme mood changes during retirement. The study found that “professional rugby players are more likely to have mental health issues in retirement than athletes in non-contact sports.”

The Sleepless Warriors At-Home study is recruiting veterans age 21+ who have served in the military for at least 180 days, have trouble sleeping, and have a concussion history.

An article published by Stanford Medicine reports that female veterans endure a more challenging recovery after sustaining a TBI than males. Cortical thinning in male and female brains after TBI may be associated with the exhibition of unexpected behavioral trends within the female population.

U.S. Navy researcher David Jesse Daily has created a prototype helmet with “increased protective capability.” As reported by TechLink, this helmet uses cavitating bubbles, which are “the formation of vapor pockets in a fluid,” to act as a shock absorber.

This new helmet design transfers the energy created on impact into the cavitation bubbles to help cushion the brain.

A review article published in the Frontiers of Neurology investigated the potential of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), serious games (SG’s), and telerehabilitation techniques to facilitate cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Elisa Mantovani et al. found these techniques to be highly engaging when performed at home by study participants.

According to The Guardian, the Rugby Football League (RFL) has approved the use of mouthguards that could detect whether a player is at risk for a concussion. The mouthguards were trialed by the Leeds Rhinos, an English Rugby team, and will be deployed next season. The guards can measure the force of collisions experienced by players.

A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that CBD and THC reduces chronic neuropathic pain in mice. Neuropathic pain is pain caused by a disease of the nervous system. While chronic neuropathic pain and post-concussion symptoms are not directly linked, research on neuropathic pain provides valuable insight.

In an interview with The Varsity, Dr. David Lawrence discusses a study he co-authored regarding how cannabis, alcohol, and cigarettes affect concussion symptoms and recovery. The study, published in Brain Injury, followed 307 subjects for four weeks after their concussion to track their recovery. they found that cannabis use was associated with lower symptom severity in the third and fourth week.

Lori Mae Yvette Calibuso Acob, an intern in our summer 2021 Concussion Education & Advocacy Internship Program, has garnered the “Exceptional Student Award” from the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA).

Two footballers in action