Concussion Legacy Basis
Writer: Samantha Bureau, PhD
In September, we come collectively to lift consciousness about concussions in order that extra people and households know what to do within the occasion they or their beloved one sustains one.
A concussion is a sort of traumatic mind harm, or TBI, brought on by a bump, blow, or jolt to the pinnacle or by successful to the physique that causes the pinnacle and mind to maneuver quickly backwards and forwards. Whereas concussions are often not life-threatening, we nonetheless must deal with them significantly as the results of a concussion can change a life.
This Concussion Consciousness Month, we particularly wish to increase consciousness that concussions don’t completely occur in sport.
Whereas we regularly see and listen to tales about former contact and collision sport athletes fighting the impacts of single and repeated mind accidents, we all know that mind harm impacts a far broader demographic, together with youngsters on the playground, accident survivors, and people with larger threat occupations, equivalent to our service members and first responders. Some methods mind harm might happen inside this group embrace airborne coaching, breaching, publicity to blast, fight coaching, firing artillery, sports activities participation, falls and accidents, and motorized vehicle collisions.
In keeping with the DOD Traumatic Mind Harm Middle of Excellence, greater than 485,000 service-members sustained a traumatic mind harm since 2000.[1]
We additionally know that mind accidents are largely under-reported, so there are seemingly many extra service-members who’ve sustained a mind harm in service, and lots of extra who sustained a mind harm exterior of service of their each day lives. We additionally know that our first responders are prone to mind harm. A latest research on first responders confirmed an alarming 74% of cops studied reported a historical past of at the very least one mind harm, with 30% reporting at the very least one harm sustained on the job.[2]
This research additionally famous that many of those accidents went unreported and untreated.
With out the assistance of a medical supplier and correct therapy following a mind harm, the chance of extended signs and difficulties will increase. For this reason recognizing and reporting mind accidents is of the utmost significance.
Within the occasion you or the one you love sustains a concussion, listed here are some indicators and signs to concentrate on:
Concussion Indicators Embrace:
- Issues with steadiness
- Glazed look within the eyes
- Amnesia
- Delayed response to questions
- Forgetting an instruction, confusion about an project or place, or confusion of the sport, rating, or opponent
- Inappropriate crying
- Inappropriate laughter
- Vomiting
- Lack of consciousness
Frequent Concussion Signs:
-
Somatic (Bodily) Signs
- Headache
- Mild-headedness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sensitivity to mild
- Sensitivity to noise
-
Cognitive Signs
- Difficulties with consideration
- Reminiscence issues
- Lack of focus
- Issue multitasking
- Issue finishing psychological duties
-
Sleep Signs
- Sleeping greater than normal
- Sleeping lower than normal
- Having hassle falling asleep
-
Emotional Signs
- Nervousness
- Melancholy
- Panic assaults
As we proceed to be taught extra about how concussion impacts this group, one space of analysis that has gained consideration extra lately is on the connection between mind accidents and psychological well being outcomes.
A 2019 systematic evaluation and meta-analysis from researchers at Harvard College researchers has proven {that a} single traumatic mind harm can double your threat of suicide.[3]
And this isn’t the one research that has linked destructive psychological well being outcomes to mind harm. A 2022 research from the Kids’s Hospital of Jap Ontario (CHEO) demonstrated that youngsters identified with a concussion have been 40% extra prone to develop a brand new psychological well being dysfunction following their harm than youngsters identified with an orthopedic harm.[4]
However does this additionally apply to our service members and first responders?
The reply is sure.
A 2023 research reviewed the information of greater than 860,000 US navy service members and demonstrated that troopers with navy associated traumatic mind harm had considerably larger charges of new-onset psychological well being circumstances than these and not using a TBI. These people have been additionally at elevated threat for suicide.[5] Moreover, the research that confirmed 74% of cops reporting a historical past of mind harm additionally discovered the officers with a historical past of mind harm had elevated charges of PTSD and depressive signs than those that didn’t report a historical past of mind harm.2
If you’re studying this and are fighting the impacts of mind harm, we’re right here for you.
Whether or not your harm was latest or years in the past, if you’re nonetheless experiencing signs and don’t know the place to show, the Concussion Legacy Basis might help.
Our CLF HelpLine and Peer Help applications supply alternatives so that you can get the assist you to want from a trusted group.
Whether or not you need assistance discovering medical suppliers in your space, or you might be simply on the lookout for somebody to speak to who understands your scenario, we encourage you to succeed in out to us at CLFHelpLine.org.
About Samantha Bureau, PhD
Dr. Samantha Bureau is a Canadian neuroscientist specializing in neurodegenerative illnesses, recognized predominantly for her work investigating mind accidents and persistent traumatic encephalopathy. Throughout her doctoral coaching, she specialised within the mobile and molecular medication of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, investigating therapeutic targets to change illness development. Dr. Bureau has had the privilege of training navy personnel at NATO workouts, and interesting the highest-ranking officers of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Mind Harm in Sport Working Group within the UK, and the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Sport in Canada. Notably, her work has impressed change around the globe, influencing the NIH, NHS, PFA, AFL, and the Australian Senate Committee, amongst others, to replace their views on CTE causation.
Previous to becoming a member of the Concussion Legacy Basis, Dr. Bureau labored at top-tier educational analysis establishments together with the Boston College CTE Middle and the College of Ottawa Mind and Thoughts Analysis Institute. She at the moment serves because the Director of Worldwide Applications at CLF the place she oversees the inspiration’s affected person companies applications, worldwide operations, and ongoing world analysis initiatives and collaborations.
Dr. Bureau is a former dual-sport NCAA athlete in ice hockey and out of doors observe and subject. She obtained her PhD in Neuroscience from Carleton College and her MBAs from Cornell College and Queen’s College.
References:
[1] DOD Traumatic Mind Harm Middle of Excellence. https://www.well being.mil/Army-Well being-Subjects/Facilities-of-Excellence/Traumatic-Mind-Harm-Middle-of-Excellence/DOD-TBI-Worldwide-Numbers
[2] Caccese JB, Smith CR, Edwards NA, et al. Silent Struggles: Traumatic Mind Accidents and Psychological Well being in Regulation Enforcement. J Head Trauma Rehabil. Printed on-line August 5, 2024. doi:10.1097/HTR.0000000000000986
[3] Fralick M, Sy E, Hassan A, Burke MJ, Mostofsky E, Karsies T. Affiliation of Concussion With the Danger of Suicide: A Systematic Overview and Meta-analysis. JAMA Neurol. 2019;76(2):144-151. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.3487
[4] Ledoux AA, Webster RJ, Clarke AE, et al. Danger of Psychological Well being Issues in Kids and Youths Following Concussion. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e221235. Printed 2022 Mar 1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1235
[5] Brenner LA, Forster JE, Gradus JL, et al. Associations of Army-Associated Traumatic Mind Harm With New-Onset Psychological Well being Circumstances and Suicide Danger. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2326296. Printed 2023 Jul 3. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.26296
