Every year in the United States, between 2.5 and 4 million people involved in sports and recreational activities experience concussions. But how dangerous are these concussions? The answer lies in understanding how the brain reacts to trauma.
The brain is a soft, fatty organ with a texture similar to gelatin. It is usually well-protected by membranes and the hard casing of the skull. However, a sudden impact can cause the brain to move and collide with the skull’s interior. Unlike gelatin, the brain’s tissue is not uniform. It consists of a complex network of 90 billion neurons that communicate through long axons to control bodily functions. This intricate structure makes neurons particularly fragile, and when they are impacted, they can stretch or even tear.
This disruption affects their ability to communicate and leads to the release of toxins as damaged axons begin to break down, causing the death of other neurons. This chain of events results in what we know as a concussion.
Concussions can manifest in various ways, including blackouts, headaches, blurry vision, balance issues, mood changes, memory problems, cognitive difficulties, sleep disturbances, and anxiety or depression. Each brain is unique, which is why people experience concussions differently. Fortunately, most concussions heal completely, with symptoms typically disappearing within days or weeks. Adequate rest and a gradual return to activity are crucial for the brain’s recovery.
There’s a common myth that you shouldn’t sleep after a concussion due to the risk of slipping into a coma. However, as long as medical professionals have ruled out severe brain injuries like brain bleeds, sleeping after a concussion is not problematic.
Some individuals may develop post-concussion syndrome (PCS), characterized by persistent headaches, learning difficulties, and behavioral symptoms that can affect relationships for months or even years. Continuing to play sports or returning too soon after a concussion increases the risk of developing PCS.
Diagnosing a concussion can be challenging because symptoms may develop gradually. This is especially true for subconcussive impacts—lower-impact jolts that don’t cause immediate symptoms but can lead to severe brain diseases over time if they occur repeatedly. For instance, soccer players frequently head the ball, which can cause such impacts.
Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, researchers have found that athletes who head the ball frequently—around 1,800 times a year—damage the structural integrity of their axon bundles. This damage resembles a fraying rope and can lead to poorer performance on short-term memory tests. Even without full-blown concussions, these subconcussive hits accumulate over time, causing measurable damage.
Research links an overload of subconcussive hits to a degenerative brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Individuals with CTE may experience mood and behavior changes in their 30s or 40s, followed by cognitive decline that can lead to dementia. The culprit is a protein called tau, which normally supports microtubules inside axons. Repeated subconcussive hits can damage these microtubules, causing tau proteins to clump together and disrupt neuron communication. These clumps can continue to spread throughout the brain, even after head impacts have stopped.
Data show that among football players, 50% to 80% of concussions go unreported and untreated. This is often due to difficulty recognizing concussions or pressure to continue playing despite feeling unwell. Failing to report concussions not only hinders recovery but also poses significant risks. Our brains are not invincible; they need protection from harm and support in recovering from damage.
Explore the intricate structure of the brain by participating in a hands-on workshop. You’ll examine models of the brain, identify key areas affected by concussions, and discuss how neurons and axons function. This activity will deepen your understanding of the brain’s vulnerability to trauma.
Engage in a simulation exercise where you will experience the symptoms of a concussion through virtual reality or interactive software. Reflect on how these symptoms impact daily activities and discuss strategies for effective recovery and management.
Participate in a group discussion analyzing real-life case studies of individuals with post-concussion syndrome. Evaluate the long-term effects and challenges faced by these individuals, and propose potential interventions to support their recovery.
Conduct research on the effects of subconcussive impacts in sports. Present your findings to the class, focusing on the implications for athletes and the importance of monitoring and mitigating these impacts to prevent long-term damage.
Collaborate with peers to design an awareness campaign that encourages athletes to report concussions. Develop materials that highlight the risks of unreported concussions and the benefits of early intervention, aiming to change perceptions and promote safety in sports.
Each year in the United States, players of sports and recreational activities receive between 2.5 and 4 million concussions. How dangerous are all those concussions? The answer is complicated and lies in how the brain responds when it experiences trauma. The brain is made of soft, fatty tissue, with a consistency similar to gelatin. Inside its protective membranes and the skull’s hard casing, this delicate organ is usually well-shielded. However, a sudden jolt can cause the brain to shift and bump against the skull’s hard interior. Unlike gelatin, the brain’s tissue isn’t uniform; it consists of a vast network of 90 billion neurons that relay signals through their long axons to communicate throughout the brain and control our bodies. This intricate structure makes neurons very fragile, so when impacted, they can stretch and even tear. This disruption not only affects their ability to communicate but also leads to the release of toxins as damaged axons begin to degenerate, causing the death of other neurons as well. This combination of events results in a concussion.
The damage from a concussion can manifest in various ways, including blackout, headache, blurry vision, balance problems, altered mood and behavior, memory issues, cognitive difficulties, sleep disturbances, and the onset of anxiety and depression. Every brain is different, which explains the wide variability in people’s experiences of concussions. Fortunately, the majority of concussions heal fully, and symptoms typically disappear within days or weeks. Adequate rest and a gradual return to activity allow the brain to heal itself.
Regarding rest, many people have heard that you shouldn’t sleep shortly after a concussion due to the risk of slipping into a coma. This is a myth. As long as medical professionals are not concerned about a more severe brain injury, such as a brain bleed, there is no documented issue with sleeping after a concussion.
Sometimes, individuals who have experienced a concussion may develop post-concussion syndrome (PCS), characterized by persistent headaches, learning difficulties, and behavioral symptoms that can affect personal relationships for months or even years after the injury. Attempting to play through a concussion, even for a short time, or returning to sports too soon increases the likelihood of developing PCS.
In some cases, a concussion can be challenging to diagnose because symptoms may unfold gradually over time. This is often true for subconcussive impacts, which result from lower-impact jolts to the head that do not cause noticeable symptoms right away but can lead to severe degenerative brain diseases over time if they occur repeatedly. For example, soccer players are known for frequently heading the ball. Using a technique called Diffusion Tensor Imaging, researchers are beginning to understand the effects of this on the brain. This method allows scientists to visualize large axon bundles and observe how milder blows might alter them structurally.
In 2013, researchers discovered that athletes who headed the ball most frequently—about 1,800 times a year—had damaged the structural integrity of their axon bundles. The damage resembled how a rope fails when its individual fibers start to fray. These players also performed worse on short-term memory tests, indicating that even without full-blown concussions, these subconcussive hits accumulated to cause measurable damage over time.
Research indicates that an overload of subconcussive hits is linked to a degenerative brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Individuals with CTE may experience changes in mood and behavior that begin to appear in their 30s or 40s, followed by cognitive decline that can, in some cases, lead to dementia. The culprit is a protein called tau. Typically, tau proteins support tiny tubes inside our axons called microtubules. It is believed that repeated subconcussive hits damage these microtubules, causing tau proteins to dislodge and clump together. These clumps disrupt transport and communication along the neuron and lead to the breakdown of connections within the brain. Once tau proteins start to aggregate, they can cause further clumping and continue to spread throughout the brain, even after head impacts have ceased.
Data show that among football players, between 50% and 80% of concussions go unreported and untreated. This can be due to the difficulty in recognizing that a concussion has occurred, but it is often also a result of pressure or a desire to continue playing despite feeling unwell. This not only undermines recovery but also poses significant risks. Our brains are not invincible; they require protection from harm and support in recovering from damage once it has occurred.
Concussion – A mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head, which can affect brain function temporarily. – After the accident, the athlete was diagnosed with a concussion and advised to rest to allow the brain to heal.
Brain – The organ in the head of vertebrates that is responsible for thought, memory, emotion, and sensory processing. – Neuroscientists study the brain to understand how it processes information and controls behavior.
Neurons – Specialized cells in the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. – Neurons communicate with each other through synapses to form complex networks in the brain.
Symptoms – Observable signs or sensations indicating a particular condition or disease. – Common symptoms of a concussion include headache, dizziness, and confusion.
Recovery – The process of returning to a normal state of health, mind, or strength after an illness or injury. – Recovery from a concussion can vary, with some individuals needing weeks or months to fully heal.
Trauma – A physical injury or wound caused by external force or violence, often leading to long-term health effects. – Repeated head trauma in contact sports can increase the risk of developing chronic neurological conditions.
Impacts – The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another, often causing damage or change. – The impacts sustained during a car accident can lead to serious injuries, including concussions.
CTE – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a progressive degenerative disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive brain trauma. – Research on CTE aims to understand its progression and develop strategies for prevention and treatment.
Memory – The faculty by which the brain stores and remembers information. – Damage to certain areas of the brain can impair memory, affecting both short-term and long-term recall.
Communication – The process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. – Effective communication between neurons is essential for proper brain function and cognitive processes.
