Concussion
A team of scientists have utilised lab-grown human brain structures known as organoids to offer insights into why traumatic brain injuries (TBI) quadruple the risk of developing dementia, and increase chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS. For the study, published in Cell Stem Cell, USC scientists used human patient-derived stem cells to grow [...]
A new blood test for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been cleared by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). U.S. Army officials, in partnership with Abbott, have announced today that Abbott’s i-STAT® TBI cartridge has received FDA clearance to be used with whole blood. The device is able to run whole blood testing at [...]
Life changed in the blink of an eye for the world class professional skier following a horrific crash on the slopes. Here she shares her traumatic brain injury story with Emma Chesworth.
Jamie MoCrazy saw her life change in an instant while she was competing in the World Tour Finals in Whistler, Canada in April 2015. Aged 22, she was at the top of the slopestyle freestyle skiing world, when she suffered a massive crash at the Finals, causing her brain to bleed in eight spots and paralysis on her right side. For Jamie, skiing had been her life. She says: “I started skiing as soon as I could walk. My whole family skied so it was a lifestyle for me. I also competed in gymnastics as a young child and I dreamed of combining skiing and gymnastics. When I learned about slopestyle and halfpipe skiing, two kinds of freestyle skiing, that dream became a reality.” Jamie, from Park City, Utah, went on to be a world cup professional skier competing at international competitions including the Dew Tour, X Games and the AFP World Championships. Following her life-changing crash eight years ago, Jamie’s challenge changed from competing to surviving.
While some regard the FDA-authorised Q-Collar as a revolutionary brain injury prevention tool for athletes, some scientists are sceptical about its true efficacy. NR Times reports. A growing number of professional athletes, mostly American football players, have been seen wearing a novel device around the neck. It is said to reduce the risk of head trauma in contact sports, but the device has stirred up controversy as sceptical scientists call into question the theories behind the technology. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2006 to 2014, the number of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalisations and deaths in the US increased by 53 per cent. Over time, repeated knocks to the head - even those that do not cause a concussion - can lead to a serious condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
At the start of the 2022/23 football season, the English Football Association announced a trial ban for heading the ball for all levels involving children under the age of 12. The ban is being trialled in order to protect the developing brains of participating children. Should the ban be deemed a success, the FA will [...]
