A study investigated the prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia in former NFL players ages 50+. The authors found significant disparities in the rate of self-reported MCI and dementia diagnoses between the study participants (who had spent at least one year in the NFL) and national incidence estimates. Alarmingly, almost 23% of participants aged 50-60 reported MCI.

Gradually increasing physical activity is now accepted as an “important aspect of appropriate clinical management.” However, post-concussion dizziness in the first weeks after a concussion reduces a patient’s propensity for physical activity and may potentially hinder recovery, a new study finds.

Over 1 million people report having mild traumatic brain injury or concussion (mTBI) per year. The second most persistent symptom reported is dizziness, ranging from feelings of “giddiness” to vertigo. A review article discusses the potential pathophysiology of dizziness and recommendations for patient care.

PedsConcussion, a living guideline for concussion treatment and recovery for kids and teens, has updated its guidelines for returning to school. The guideline now states that students can return to school when cognitive activities do not make symptoms worse, even if symptoms are still present.

A study. found connections between pre-injury anxiety, post-injury anxiety, and persistent post-concussion symptoms. Dr. William Barr (NYU Langone Health) notably tweeted about the study, commenting: “assessment of anxiety is important among adolescents presenting for concussion care and delivery of evidence-supported treatments for anxiety are important considerations …”

A study by Jackie L. Gottshall et al. found that poor sleep quality may be an "important driver of the relationships" between common post-mTBI neuropsychiatric disorders—major depressive disorder (MDD), post-concussive symptoms (PCS), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—and biomarkers of neurodegeneration.

A study by Ghazala T. Saleem et al. examined the efficacy of the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs (PANESS) to identify subtle postural control deficits after concussion. They found that the thirty-second single-leg stance identified impaired postural control in children after concussion.

In 2021, the NFL offered an opportunity to researchers to examine possible treatments for pain in NFL athletes. An article written for CBC News indicates that the NFL awarded over $500,000 to a study led by Patrick Neary, a professor and exercise physiologist at the University of Regina, a public university in Canada.

An article published on Verywell Health provides a well-written overview of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic headaches (PTH). These headaches typically stem from traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, the most common causes of which are falls, automobile injuries, sports injuries, and domestic abuse.

Veterans with mTBI (concussion) and their caregivers are invited to participate in a research study. Mind Over Matter (M.O.M.) provides a platform that gives veterans with an mTBI and their caregivers an active voice in developing a pathway for increasing the relevance of TBI Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) and Comparative Effectiveness Research (C.E.R.).

A study conducted by Joan Machamer et al. found that over two-thirds of concussion patients report persistent symptoms a year post-injury. At the 12 month evaluation, 50 percent of participants reported at least three symptoms, and 71 percent of participants reported that at least one symptom was new or worse than pre-injury.

A study investigated whether concussion nondisclosure disparities existed by race, socioeconomic status (SES), or athletic training health care access before college. One of the study’s goals was to understand the differential reasons for concussion nondisclosure between White and Black collegiate athletes.

A recent study by Tiffany O’Connor et al. explored the incidence of traumatic brain injury among homeless and precariously housed persons. Of the 326 individuals who participated in the study, 100 acquired at least one TBI during the study period (with 31% suffering more than one) – yielding an incidence proportion of 30.7%.

A study found associations between certain personality traits and the time until return to play after a concussion. Experience seeking and impulsivity are personality traits that indicate a shorter return to play after a concussion. In contrast, conscientiousness is a personality trait that investigators associated with a more extended return to play delay.

A study found that veterans with mTBI history performed significantly worse on 4 of 9 cognitive tests than either the age-matched non mTBI veterans or the healthy controls. Concerningly, the test results for veterans with mTBI showed they were cognitively “at least three decades older.” They performed most closely to the cohort of early-stage Parkinson’s Disease patients.

An excellent article from Elizabeth Sandel, MD, explores the relationship between falls and TBI in older adults and lays out interventions for a variety of common risk factors. Sandel points out that “Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the U.S."

When is virtual concussion care appropriate? How do you conduct a virtual concussion exam? Which part of the exam cannot be done virtually? (Spoiler alert, it’s orthostatic vitals, cardiovascular/respiratory, and gait). A group of leading U.S. and Canadian concussion researchers/clinicians have authored a Virtual Concussion Exam Training Manual.

A study found that over half of participants had persistent sensorimotor impairments at four weeks to six months after suffering a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The authors note that “These disturbances were evident regardless of whether ongoing symptoms were reported,” including those patients who said they were asymptomatic.

Researchers utilized NCAA-DOD CARE Consortium data to investigate whether the presence of ADHD or learning disability (LD) increased the odds that NCAA athletes would report a history of concussion or sustain a concussion after enrolling in the CARE Consortium study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects up to 1 in 3 women over their lifetime. COVID-19 has intensified this problem. The intersection of IPV and brain injury (BI) remains relatively understudied. However, this study, published in Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, focused on improving understanding of intimate partner violence and brain injury.