Pounded by armor plated robots. Blasted by cosmic bolt rays. Smashed by countless knock-out punches. But, sooner or later, one thing all Superheroes have in common – “My head hurts.” And the TBI symptoms begin to appear: Iron Man – PTSD, anxiety, and alcoholism. Thor – Depression. Spiderman – Depression. Hulk – Anger and mood…
With modern life so jam-packed with activities and stimulation, it is hard to completely unplug and relax. But that’s something our brain needs to repair and restore itself. The one (mostly) sure-fire place for our brain to go for some downtime is slumberland. That’s why it’s crucial to get enough sleep. “Our cognitive function is…
Some brain injury patients may appear to be in a coma, but they are not. They are processing at least some of what is happening around them but cannot physically respond. Without a physical response, a physician might assume that a patient hasn’t understood, said Sudhin Shah, a neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New…
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was escorted away from a lectern by Republican colleagues during a Wednesday press conference after taking an unusually long pause. The GOP leader was giving an opening statement during a press conference when he abruptly stopped speaking and stood silently for several seconds. McConnell, 81, appeared to be unable to…
Scientists in Australia have diagnosed the world’s first case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in a professional female athlete, with implications for millions of girls and women who play contact sport. Heather Anderson, an Australian Football League (AFL) player, was found to have low-stage CTE during an autopsy by scientists at the Australian Sports…
A neuroscientist who specializes in concussions called for the Miami Dolphins’ medical staff and coaches to be fired after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was hospitalized with a brutal head injury during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night. Tagovailoa’s head hit the ground with such force during the second quarter that his hands and arms…
Brett Favre’s status as the NFL’s ironman came with a dark side, as he explained in a recent podcast. During an appearance on “The Bubba Army” radio show this week, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer was asked how many serious head injuries he sustained during his 20-season professional career. His full response: “The…
New York Jets coach Robert Saleh expressed concern over the new Guardian Cap, saying the protective shells are causing players to use their helmets more than usual — and he is worried about the potential effects when they are removed later in the preseason. “I think the spirit of it all is really good. It’s…
As teams start to ramp up their offseason workouts ahead of training camp, many players will be seen sporting an extra piece of head protection for the first time. With the start of minicamps this week came the first appearances of the new Guardian Cap, an extra soft-shell pad worn over players’ helmets that was…
When the brain sustains damage after an injury, the signals it sends throughout the body can become interrupted, resulting in specific secondary effects, such as loss of movement or sensation. Fortunately, the brain has the ability to rewire itself through neuroplasticity. During this process, new neural pathways are created and existing pathways are strengthened, allowing…