Mild Concussions Linked to Long-term Brain Damage, Study Finds
A recent groundbreaking study uncovered an alarming connection between long-term brain damage and mild concussions. As the uncertain effects of harmless head injuries come to light, this research can potentially redefine our knowledge of brain health.
A team of Cambridge researchers recently found through a Europe-wide study that almost half of the patients suffering from concussion show symptoms of brain injury even after six months.
These results could help scientists predict patients’ reactions and create targeted solutions for particular symptoms. The research also focused on the need for better after-injury care.
Uncovering the Effects of Mild Concussions
The Cambridge team evaluated data from CENTER-TBI, a prominent European research project. Its goal is to improve care for traumatic brain injury individuals.
Even a mild knock to the head causes long-lasting brain damage in nearly half of patients, research has shown.
Scientists at Cambridge University found that 45% of patients had symptoms at least six months after suffering a concussionhttps://t.co/3VgYxG6voe
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) April 26, 2023
With the use of functional MRI (fMRI) scans from 108 participants with mild traumatic brain concussions, they matched these with scans of 76 healthy volunteers. The results revealed that 45% of the patients still exhibit symptoms of brain injuries.
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These symptoms include poor concentration, fatigue, and headaches. In addition, sports injuries, car accidents, and falls that caused mild concussions were linked to incomplete recovery and continuous symptoms.
A Glimpse into the Future of Concussion Treatment
Although patients with speculated concussions typically receive brain scans to determine structural problems like bruising or inflammation, these scans may not display any apparent damage.
Dr. Emmanuel Stamatakis of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Division of Anesthesia at the University of Cambridge emphasized that a lack of accuracy in prognosis can result in insufficient patient care.
Moreover, the study also found that patients with continuous symptoms had thalamus irregularities. It is a part of the brain that coordinates sensory information and supplies it throughout the brain.
More connection between the thalamus and other regions of the brain correlates with a weak prognosis for the patient. A Ph.D. student in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at Hughes Hall at Cambridge, Rebecca Woodrow, discussed that the thalamus was hyperconnected even without structural damage in scans.
This overcompensation may be the root of long-lasting symptoms that patients go through.
Targeting Specific Symptoms with Future Treatments
By observing more data from positron emission tomography (PET) scans, the researchers learned that patients with cognitive problems like memory struggles displayed an increased connection between the thalamus and brain parts rich in noradrenaline.
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On the contrary, patients with emotional problems, such as irritability or depression, showed more connection with the serotonin-rich brain parts. They are the “happy hormone.”
Dr. Stamatakis advised that existing medicines targeting these brain chemicals can help assume a patient’s prognosis. It could also offer hope in creating treatments adjusted to particular symptoms.
Furthermore, this breakthrough could pave the way for more effective treatment and prevention. It could also promote public awareness of the long-term impact of mild concussions on overall health.
