The Science of Concussion and Brain Injury
How medicine, sports and society are trying to
heal and protect the brains of millions amidst the growing awareness of
the long-lasting effects of traumatic head injury
May 13, 2014
More In This Report
-
Scientific American Mind Volume 25, Issue 1
A Safe Way to Tackle?
Heads Up—a much hyped new approach to tackling—seeks to avoid the most ferocious helmet-to-helmet collisions of football -
February 2012
Concussion Is a Serious Problem for Child Athletes
Concussion in children is a serious problem that deserves more attention -
February 2012
Controversy: Can Repeat Concussions Cause Lou Gehrig's Disease?
Football players diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease may suffer from the effect of repeated blows to the head, controversial new research says -
June 2011
How Brains Bounce Back from Physical Damage
After a traumatic injury, neurons that govern memory can regenerate -
News
Self-Worth Shattering: A Single Bomb Blast Can Saddle Soldiers with Debilitating Brain Trauma
Brain tissue from deceased military veterans exposed to explosions shows signs of the same neurodegenerative brain disorder that strikes football players who have sustained multiple concussions -
Features
Brain Injury Rate 7 Times Greater among U.S. Prisoners
Prisoners suffer disproportionately from past traumatic brain injuries. Researchers are hunting for the best tools to treat this population in an effort to help them reintegrate into society--and avoid re-incarceration -
60-Second Health Podcast
Soccer Headings Can Harm Brain
A specialized form of brain imaging finds that soccer players who head the ball more than 1,000 times a year face risks similar to those with head trauma. Katherine Harmon reports -
September / October 2011
Catching Concussions Early
A new test could help coaches identify head injuries on the sidelines -
May / June 2010
Can an old head injury suddenly cause detrimental effects much later in life?
Douglas Smith, professor of neurosurgery and director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, answers -
Features
Concussions Exact Toll on Football Players Long After They Retire
A leading researcher discusses how on-the-field head injuries can lead to neurological disorders in players even after they hang up their cleats -
News
The Aches of War: Some Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Suffer Frequent Headaches
About one in seven soldiers has suffered a mild brain injury, and a new study finds that the effects can linger -
News
Sensor-Rigged Helmet Gives Football Players a Heads Up on Concussions
An Illinois high school ponies up $60,000 for helmets designed to protect players against brain and spinal injuries -
60-Second Mind Podcast
More Than One Blow for a Concussion in Football
A recent study shows that it's multiple blows to the head that lead to a concussion in football. Christie Nicholson reports -
Observations
NFL gains yards in its treatment of players' head injuries
-
60-Second Science Podcast
Boxing Batters Brain Even With Headgear
Amateur boxers, wearing headgear, still suffered insult to the brain in some cases equivalent to a small stroke. -
December 2008/January 2009
Simple Salves for Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
Low-tech emergency room therapies can stem the damage from traumatic brain injuries -
60-Second Mind Podcast
Hockey and Concussions
Researchers are asking hockey players to give up their brains to study the long-term impact of concussions. Christie Nicholson reports -
December 2008/January 2009
Impact and the Brain
Mild traumatic brain injury represents a silent but brutal plague among combat veterans and a hidden threat to the health of civilians -
April/May 2008
Brain Injury's Toll
Aging veterans with head trauma experience faster cognitive decline -
60-Second Science Podcast
Bike Helmet Laws Translate To Less Kid Brain Damage
A review of good-quality studies finds that legislation making bike helmets mandatory for kids causes significant reduction in head trauma cases. -
60-Second Mind Podcast
New Head Protection for Footballers
A new high-tech helmet allows coaches and sideline doctors to spot concussions and other dangerous injuries on the football field, in real-time. The head gear has sensors that send impact measurements wirelessly. For more on this story, please read Larry Greenemeier's October 4 article on Sciam.com news. -
Ask the Experts
What happens to the brain during a concussion?
Multimedia
-
60-Second Tech Podcast
Smart Helmets Could Flag Players at Trauma Risk
Force sensors in headgear could signal whether a hit is strong enough to cause concern should the player receive a second serious blow. Larry Greenemeier reports -
Science Talk Podcast
The Football Concussion Crisis
NFL Hall of Famer Harry Carson joins former NBC anchor Stone Phillips and pathologist Bennet Omalu for a discussion of chronic traumatic encephalopathy among football players. Recorded May 12th at the Ensemblestudiotheatre.org, site of the new play Headstrong about the brain injury issue
Editors Picks
-
Features
How the NFL Worked to Hide the Truth about Concussions and Brain Damage [Excerpt]
The NFL not only publicly denied evidence that long-term brain damage could result from concussions suffered by its players, but worked to undercut it -
Web Exclusives
Inside Story: What Happens When Brain Hits Skull
Watch the frightening mechanics of a concussive blow to the head
![How the NFL Worked to Hide the Truth about Concussions and Brain Damage [Excerpt]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sFBCYRLqDq-DwcGCHbhJwfN9z4KwkNW8HP7EcAiJ5FhDw7RG5Hmg8Y6R7t73OQTUpjy8-xXfgCvlcWVTlJN3WYpLHOTieEX_DmjiAZJXpEo_JoEElJnISeJZnmeTES54Jzi8EvB-YYMxbc6pVazXAVSkpRUe1IDhxid9BfRGgy3FUdBA=s0-d){kind=small}
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no
obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed
for the one-year subscription.
Subscribe Now
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered