Articles Tagged with concussion

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Young athletes who suffer frequent concussions have a higher risk of suffering multiple sclerosis later in life.

These findings were part of a study recently published in the journal Annals of Neurology.  Researchers in Sweden analyzed medical histories of Swedes who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis since 1964. When the same data was compared with another control group, the researchers found that the risk of development of multiple sclerosis later in life was higher in people who had suffered multiple head injuries during their youth.  Persons who had suffered at least one concussion were 22% more likely to suffer symptoms of multiple sclerosis later in life, compared to those who had not suffered such injuries. In the case of multiple concussions, the likelihood increased by a staggering 150%.

The study also revealed that concussions do not seem to be so damaging when they occur during childhood. Adolescent brains seem to be much less resilient, making them more vulnerable to the long-term effects of consistent concussions.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the impairments that is listed in the Social Security Administration (SSA) impairments listing, which categorizes illnesses that are eligible for disability benefits.

A new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that girls may have different responses to traumatic brain injuries, compared to males. According to the study, teenage girls who suffered a concussion, or a mild traumatic brain injury, are much more likely to suffer difficulties such as psychological issues, suicidal thoughts, smoking, and being the victims of bullying.

Those are interesting study results, because traumatic brain injuries typically affect more numbers of boys than girls. Approximately 2.5 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury that is serious enough to require a visit to an emergency room, and those injuries are much more common among males. However, girls are likely to suffer injuries in bicycle accidents, while playing sports, and during cheerleading.