Concussion News and Research

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Children with more years of sport experience recover better from concussions, finds study

More years in sports - not less - may help protect the brains of children who have had a concussion, against future concussions, a new study says.

5 Apr 2019

Virginia Tech Helmet Lab releases first youth-specific football helmet ratings

The majority of people playing football in the U.S. aren't NFL players or collegiate athletes --they're youth players, less than 14 years old. But until now, there hasn't been independent data evaluating the effectiveness of the helmets these athletes wear on the field.

20 Mar 2019

Stanford researchers detail how hits to the side of the head cause concussion

Concussion researchers have long suggested that damage to the corpus callosum, a thick bundle of nerves that connects the brain's two halves, could result in some common side effects of concussion, like dizziness or vision problems.

13 Mar 2019

New guidelines developed for children recovering from concussion

New guidelines that reduce the amount of rest required for children recovering from a concussion have been developed by CanChild, a McMaster University research institute.

12 Mar 2019

New machine learning-based approach to predict recovery time of sports-related concussions

The prevalence of concussions in sports is well known. So, too, is the challenge clinicians and others face when they have to decide when an athlete can return to the game after a head injury.

8 Mar 2019

Good dietary practices in early adulthood can help preserve brain health in midlife

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, moderate in nuts, fish and alcohol and low in meat and full-fat dairy is associated with better cognitive performance in middle age, according to a study published in the March 6, 2019, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Cognitive abilities include thinking and memory skills.

7 Mar 2019

Sleep apnea may be related to higher accumulation of Alzheimer's biomarker in the brain

People who are witnessed by a bed partner to have stopped breathing during sleep may have higher accumulations of an Alzheimer's disease biomarker called tau in an area of the brain that helps with memory, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4 to 10, 2019.

4 Mar 2019

Researchers design educational program to reduce risk and seriousness of falls in children

A group of researchers from the Department of Physical Education and Sport at the University of Seville have designed the educational program Safe Fall- Safe Schools, a pioneering initiative that aims to reduce the risk and seriousness of the injuries caused by backwards falls in children by means of the teaching of safe and protective techniques.

25 Feb 2019

Scooter madness in Austin puts safety concerns in high gear

University of Texas star baseball shortstop David Hamilton hit a pothole riding an electric scooter, tearing his Achilles tendon and requiring surgery. He'll miss the season. Cristal Glangchai, the CEO for a nonprofit, hit a rock riding her scooter, landing her on the pavement just blocks from home.

6 Feb 2019

Mental health problems common after concussion

A new study reveals that approximately 1 in 5 individuals may experience mental health symptoms up to six months after mild traumatic brain injury, suggesting the importance of follow-up care for these patients.

30 Jan 2019

Brain vital signs detect neurophysiological impairments in players with concussions

A team of Canadian and U.S. brain researchers have published results from a multi-year hockey concussion study, which tracked the brain function of young Junior A male ice hockey players using a new brainwave monitoring method called "brain vital signs."

18 Jan 2019

Neck-strengthening exercises can protect athletes from concussions

Rutgers researchers have proposed a solution for athletes at higher risk for sports-related concussions, such as football and soccer: Protect your head with neck-strengthening exercises in the pre-season.

17 Jan 2019

Study finds risk factors linked to REM sleep behavior disorder

Taking antidepressants for depression, having post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety diagnosed by a doctor are risk factors for a disruptive and sometimes violent sleep disorder called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, according to a study published in the December 26, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

27 Dec 2018

Finding ways to reduce head impacts in youth football

The high head impact and concussion rates in football are of increasing concern, especially for younger players.

21 Dec 2018

IU study focuses on repetitive subconcussive head impacts in sports

A new study by Indiana University researchers has found that eyeball and eyelid movement, or oculomotor function, which is used to detect symptomless brain injury, can be impaired by mild, repetitive head impacts in football players. But the function may adapt mid-season, even as athletes continue to incur head impacts.

21 Dec 2018

Researchers identify unique signatures of concussion in the brains of young athletes using MRI

Using MRI to study the brains of young female athletes has helped researchers develop an objective way to monitor a concussion injury.

20 Dec 2018

UNH study offers insight into lasting impact of concussions on young adults

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that young adults who experienced repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, or concussions, can experience persistent cognitive changes as well as altered brain activity.

20 Dec 2018

Research: Concussion rates among young football players were higher than previously reported

New research from Seattle Children's Research Institute and UW Medicine's Sports Health and Safety Institute found concussion rates among football players ages 5-14 were higher than previously reported, with five out of every 100 youth, or 5%, sustaining a football-related concussion each season.

14 Dec 2018

UCLA biologists uncover how head injuries can lead to serious brain disorders

UCLA biologists have discovered how head injuries adversely affect individual cells and genes that can lead to serious brain disorders.

17 Nov 2018

AAP updates concussion recommendations for children and teens

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its concussion recommendations to support children and teens engaging in light physical activity and returning to school as they recover.

12 Nov 2018