Concussion Update Newsletter
See below for previous editions.
Our biweekly Concussion Update newsletter provides thoughtful synopses of new research, news related to concussions, listings of free webinars, and calls for study participants for research.
Chronic cannabis use may protect young adult athletes from the effects of subconcussive head impacts (8/24/23 Newsletter)
College students need better concussion plans, pro soccer heading frequency associated with dementia, chronic cannabis use may be neuroprotective from subconcussive hits, no significant associations between neck strength and concussion risk, concussion spotters in WWC
Brain fitness program improves symptoms in post-concussion syndrome patients (8/10/23 Newsletter)
TBI-associated depression is its own disorder–transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may help; auditory processing reveals subconcussive head impact history; youth tackle football perceptions; first CTE in a female athlete, Women's World Cup & soccer safety.
Blood pressure drug shows promise in preventing posttraumatic headaches (7/20 Newsletter)
CBD & THC for anxiety disorders; moderate to vigorous physical activity linked to faster symptom recovery; promoting mental health in schools–but take into account social inequalities; females have disrupted brain activity not seen in males
Lifetime exposure to cumulative force of repeated head impacts is strongly associated with CTE (7/14/23 Newsletter)
Light exercise within 48 hrs of concussion, soccer heading, IV ketamine for migraine, PTSD and poor sleep, psychological factors contributing to persistent symptoms
Early intervention vestibular therapy linked to shorter recovery times (7/7/23 Newsletter)
College students’ limited knowledge, microglial activation outlasts clinical recovery, benefits of physical fitness, telehealth graded exercise test, high risk for suicide among military with mTBI, active rehab for youth
Changes in gut bacteria found to indicate a concussion; potential treatments (6/29/23 Newsletter)
A small pilot study published in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health found that athletes experience a decrease in two types of helpful bacteria (Eubacterium rectale and Anaerostipes hadrus) in the gut after sustaining a concussion.
Even a single concussion can lead to the emergence of a new mental health disorder in adolescents (6/15/23 Newsletter)
Neuroendocrine dysfunction, walking the dog and a growing concern about concussions, cognitive deficits in IPV survivors, elevated head trauma rates in refugees and asylum seekers, low levels of myelin and repetitive head impacts
Increased risk of criminal behavior after mTBI (6/1/23 Newsletter)
A New Zealand study found that people who have experienced a single mild TBI had an “increased risk of criminal behavior.”
Post-concussion sleep problems associated with persistent symptoms (5/18/23 Newsletter)
A study by Samantha N. Magliato et al. found that those who reported sleep problems in an initial clinic visit developed persistent post-concussive symptoms at twice the rate of those who did not report sleep problems after a concussion.
45% of concussion patients show brain injury symptoms at six months (5/4/23 Newsletter)
A research team found that a mild brain injury can create changes in coordination between different regions of the brain (thalamic hyperconnectivity) and that these changes were related to their findings that 45% of the study participants still had symptoms such as cognitive impairment, depression, and most commonly, headaches, poor concentration, and fatigue at six months post-injury.
Athletes with sport-related concussions have increased speech errors (4/20/23 Newsletter)
thalamus connectivity predicts persistent symptoms, dad writes book to explain symptoms to his daughter, innovation in prescribing aerobic exercise therapy,mental health and youth, students not getting care, new IPV-TBI screening module
Combined exercise and biofeedback-guided breathing more helpful than either alone, preliminary findings say (3/23/23 Newsletter)
Medical cannabis helps quality of life for chronic pain, ‘cervical spine disorder,’ moderate-to-vigorous exercise as good or better for mental health than medication, NFL exposure may affect cognitive declines, Swedish pro soccer players have higher dementia risk than the general population
(3/9/23 Newsletter) Neuroprotective properties of CBD may support TBI recovery
1/3 of children get follow-up for ED mental health, prescribed rest worsens symptoms, adolescent cognitive function impaired 1-6 months, history of CTE, CTE and repeated head impacts
(2/23/23 Newsletter) Migraine medication may help with post-traumatic cervicogenic headache
concussion pathway for neurodivergent & disabled students, no cognitive issues for 3 seasons of NCAA soccer, balance training, free emergency services for veterans, high proportion of football players’ brains studied have cte
(2/9/23 Newsletter) Significant improvements in 4 former football players with possible CTE: transcranial photobiomodulation case studies
Dolphins QB concussion risk, 3+ concussions = worse cognition later in life, fatigue, saliva test, psychological conditions, school problems, neurodegenerative risk in rugby players
Medical marijuana decreases migraine length, frequency, severity, and disability level in patients (1/26/23 Newsletter)
Early return to school mitigates symptoms, NFL dangers, BPPV after concussion, natural remedies for concussion, vestibular rehabilitation helpful, Brain fog in concussion patients, academic experience after concussion, soccer players have worse brain health at 65
(1/12/23 Newsletter) New national concussion awareness coalition from Brain Injury Association of America, Abbott, and 16 other organizations
NYT reviews QCollar; NFL Cannabis restrictions; CGRP protein induces migraines; WaPo answers concussion questions; standardized heart rates work for exercise therapy; postconcussion and depression symptoms associated; PTSD, TBI, & APOE ε4 increase alzheimer’s risk
(12/15/22 Newsletter) Boswellia serrata extract found to have cognitive benefits for traumatic brain injury patients
CBD has therapeutic benefits, undiagnosed concussions affect baseline tests, multidisciplinary clinics, TBI contributes to veteran suicide, medication overprescription for anxiety & PTSD, concussions affect kids’ school performance, domestic abuse survivors more likely to get TBIs than athletes, racial differences in adult ED visits
(12/1/22 Newsletter) Depression app clinical trial: Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine recruiting Service Members & Veterans for Remote CBT Study
Australians need improved provider training & multidisciplinary care centers, microRNA saliva test for persistent symptom risk, socioeconomic & racial disparities in pediatric adherence & referrals, jury finds NCAA not liable in wrongful death suit
(11/10/22 Newsletter) NIH formally acknowledges that CTE is caused partly by repeated TB
All college students need Return-to-Learn, drug reduces neuronal & cognitive impacts, increased delta brain waves, resting connectivity deficits & working memory, concussions & suicidal behavior, youth E-scooter injuries, screening IPV survivors for TBI, NCAA facing trial for wrongful death