Chronic cannabis use may protect young adult athletes from the effects of subconcussive head impacts (8/24/23 Newsletter)

This week's lead article, Chronic cannabis use may protect young adult athletes from the effects of subconcussive head impacts is in the Cannabis & Psychedelics category.

In this newsletter: Opportunities, Education, Sports, Cannabis & Psychedelics, Pathophysiology, and Women’s Health.

We appreciate the Concussion Alliance volunteers and Leadership Team Members who created this edition:
Writers: Nancy Cullen, Fadhil Hussain, Susan Klein, MD, PhD, Keya Mookencherry, and Sravya Valiveti.

Editors: Conor Gormally and Malayka Gormally

Do you find the Concussion Update helpful? If so, forward this to a friend and suggest they subscribe.

Opportunities

Click on the image above for the flyer in pdf format.

Participants needed for a study using an app to combat depression after concussion. The app provides online activities based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles. Eligibility: individuals 18-70 years old with a history of concussion. The study is open to civilians even though the flyer says the study is designed for veterans and service members.

Participants will use the app daily for 12 weeks and complete questionnaires every other week for 16 weeks from the comfort of their own homes with up to $50 compensation for participation. Dr. David Brody is performing the study at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and Uniformed Services University. Interested? Email CNRM-D@usuhs.edu or call/text (301) 461-4322.

Tuesday, September 12, 6 pm EST: A free webinar, Return to Athletics, Principles and Who To See, presented by Dr. Michael Hutchinson and hosted by the Canadian Concussion Centre. Register in advance.

Friday, September 15, 8 am PDT: A free webinar, How to Setup a Concussion Management Team in Schools, presented by a panel of experts and hosted by The Center on Brain Injury and Research. Register in advance.

Education

Post-concussion academic supports in higher education: new efforts to address continuing gaps

Blog

A recent report by Memmini and colleagues identifies key principles of return-to-learn for college athletes to explore how non-athletes fare in the college classroom after a concussion.

Read More →

Sports

Retired pro soccer players: heading frequency and player position associated with risk of cognitive impairment and dementia

Blog

A study published in JAMA Network Neurology found that “repetitive heading during a professional soccer career is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment later in life” and self-reported dementias in retired male professional soccer players

Read More →

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Chronic cannabis use may protect young adult athletes from the effects of subconcussive head impacts

Blog

A study found that athletes who used cannabis regularly had better eye focus ability and lower levels of brain inflammation compared to the non-cannabis group after repetitive subconcussive head impacts.

Read More →

Pathophysiology

Systematic review: no significant relationship between greater neck strength and lower risk of sports-related concussion––more research needed

Blog

A study found that there was a small, not statistically relevant relationship between greater neck strength and a lower risk of sustaining a sports-related concussion in athletes.

Read More →

Women’s Health

The introduction of concussion spotters to the Women’s World Cup

Blog

In the 2023 Women’s World Cup, there was a new introduction to the state of play for the tournament: concussion spotters. Spotters are certified athletic trainers not tied to any specific team.

Read More →