An excellent article from Elizabeth Sandel, MD, explores the relationship between falls and TBI in older adults and lays out interventions for a variety of common risk factors. Sandel points out that “Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the U.S."

When is virtual concussion care appropriate? How do you conduct a virtual concussion exam? Which part of the exam cannot be done virtually? (Spoiler alert, it’s orthostatic vitals, cardiovascular/respiratory, and gait). A group of leading U.S. and Canadian concussion researchers/clinicians have authored a Virtual Concussion Exam Training Manual.

A study found that over half of participants had persistent sensorimotor impairments at four weeks to six months after suffering a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The authors note that “These disturbances were evident regardless of whether ongoing symptoms were reported,” including those patients who said they were asymptomatic.

Researchers utilized NCAA-DOD CARE Consortium data to investigate whether the presence of ADHD or learning disability (LD) increased the odds that NCAA athletes would report a history of concussion or sustain a concussion after enrolling in the CARE Consortium study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects up to 1 in 3 women over their lifetime. COVID-19 has intensified this problem. The intersection of IPV and brain injury (BI) remains relatively understudied. However, this study, published in Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, focused on improving understanding of intimate partner violence and brain injury.

According to a preliminary research study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, an 8-week neuromuscular training (NMT) intervention on sports-related injuries of young athletes may lead to a 3.5 times lower risk of injury when they return to play post-concussion.

A study by Dr. Michael Robinson et al., published in American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, used a decision tree to identify patients at higher risk of developing prolonged concussion symptoms. The researchers found that feelings of fogginess and sadness at initial assessment were predictive of prolonged symptoms “lasting 28 days or more postconcussion.”

A study found that “students who sustained a concussion during the pandemic did not report increased academic concerns or reduced QOL [quality of life] compared to those whose injury was prior to the pandemic.”

A study found that persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCSs) “were associated with an increased likelihood of perpetrating IPV in the subsequent year when controlling for other common IPV risk factors,” including binge drinking, marijuana use, pain level, and probable PTSD.

PedsConcussion tweeted a flowchart and breakdown of their “Telemedicine and Virtual Care Algorithm.” This flowchart can be helpful for both patients and providers when considering whether or not to go for in-person care, which is particularly important considering the current increased incidence of COVID-19.

In an article published in The Marshall Project, Melissa Bickford details her experience with intimate partner violence and the subsequent impact of the TBI she suffered as a result. Connecting with a previously incancerated man made Bickford realize that the psycho-emotional and physical fallout of a brain injury can push victims to become perpetrators.

Veterans with or without a history of head injury are encouraged to participate in a remote study to learn about how receiving bright light or negative ions in the morning might affect sleep in veterans of all ages.

In a recent study, an analysis of acute symptom presentation among the three age groups (5–8, 9–12, and 13 to < 18) found that “signs and symptoms differed markedly across age groups, with vomiting decreasing and headache, LOC [loss of consciousness], amnesia, and disorientation increasing with increasing age."

A study by Cassandra C. Daisy et al. published in Neurology discovered a new pair of proteins in urine that, along with a single-task gait evaluation, can be used to distinguish concussed athletes from healthy controls with 83.5% accuracy.

A study by Carolyn A. Emery et al. published in British Journal of Sports Medicine found that injury rates were 61% lower and concussion rates 51% lower in non-elite adolescent hockey leagues that did not permit body-checking than leagues that did.

Research published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine sheds new light on the use of common cannabis products for treating headaches and migraines. Researchers Sarah S. Stith et al. found that dried Cannabis flower could effectively treat pain from migraines and headaches.

Cannabinoids may be beneficial in treating traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis, particularly for patients who “display resistance to conventional treatment.” In their recent literature review, Daniela Calina et al. found that, in animal models, “the use of cannabinoids in TBI increases neurobehavioral function [and] working memory performance.”

Researchers are finalizing their recent pilot study on photobiomodulation conducted by The University of Utah. In this video produced by the research team, several of the men who participated in the study talk about their deteriorating health due to repetitive head hits and concussions, their concerns about CTE, and how light therapy during the clinical trial substantially improved their health.

A study conducted by Stephen C. Bunt et al. found that low resilience was associated with a greater number and increased severity of symptoms three months following a sports-related concussion (SRC).

A web-based concussion education initiative sponsored by the Barrow Neurological Institute, Barrow Brainbook, has reached over one million high school athletes in Arizona since its establishment in 2011. The initiative teaches students how to prevent concussions, recognize the signs and symptoms of concussions, and respond to concussions.