MSN | Apr 29, 2024
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered leaky blood vessels, together with a hyperactive immune system may be the underlying cause of brain fog in people with long Covid. They suggest their discovery is important for the understanding of brain fog and cognitive decline – difficulty with thinking, memory or concentration – seen in some people with the condition. It is hoped the findings will help with the development of treatments in the future.
National Public Radio | Apr 29, 2024
Researchers know a lot about the traumatic brain injuries that occur in contact sports and combat, but they're just beginning to study injuries from another leading cause - domestic violence. NPR's Jon Hamilton reports on how assaults by a spouse or intimate partner can damage the brain - and a warning that this story contains graphic descriptions of physical violence.
CTV News | Apr 29, 2024
Researchers are trying to determine if a number of Canadian veterans are suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death. CTE is often accompanied by psychiatric symptoms, which could develop into suicidal thoughts, according to researchers. However, little is understood scientifically about a possible link, nor how widespread CTE is among veterans. Standing inside a brain imaging lab at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, researcher Isabelle Boileau says it’s possible that armed forces members who’ve been exposed to explosions could be suffering from CTE.
The Wall Street Journal | Apr 29, 2024
Mental-health problems often follow traumatic brain injuries; U.S. doctors are helping their Ukrainian counterparts, and learning from them.
The Mirror, UK | Apr 29, 2024
The NFL is set to introduce a significant rule change for the upcoming 2024 season, as it allows players to wear Guardian Caps in a bid to ramp up safety measures. The league has been proactive in its approach to player safety, with the new helmets reportedly slashing concussion rates by almost half during training camps over the last two years. Data from specific position groups that used the helmets in 2022 and 2023 showed a substantial reduction in head injuries, prompting NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller to endorse the move.
Harvard School of Public Health | Apr 25, 2024
A new genetic study of more than 1.2 million people has pinpointed 95 loci, or locations in the genome, linked with risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in which exposure to trauma can harm a person’s quality of life with symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and mood instability. The findings further validate the role that heritability plays in the disorder and could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies.
US News & World Report | Apr 24, 2024
Soldiers can suffer brain injury if they are repeatedly exposed to explosive blasts, a new study shows. Further, the more frequently a soldier is exposed to explosions, the greater their risk for brain injury, researchers reported April 22 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Based on this, researchers intend to develop a diagnostic test to detect blast brain injury in military personnel.
Health Imaging | Apr 24, 2024
The number of head CT scans completed during concussion evaluations in emergency departments could soon be affected by a blood test newly approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In early April, Abbott Laboratories announced the approval of its its i-STAT TBI cartridge, which can help determine whether a patient has a concussion in as little as 15 minutes using only a small blood sample.
The Washington Post | Apr 24, 2024
A legendary rugby player has cited the fear and anxiety that has come into his life among the reasons for urging the Australian government to fund support services and education about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
NRG Media | Apr 23, 2024
When 12 students and one teacher were gunned down in a mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, the tragic event marked a turning point for America. Twenty five years later, some survivors recall how they have dealt with the physical and mental impact of PTSD, anxiety and depression.
WMTW | Apr 22, 2024
The Secretary of the Army says all new soldiers will receive cognitive testing as part of basic training, as a way to set a baseline for their neurological health from shockwave trauma.
Sports Illustrated | Apr 22, 2024
The same university that birthed the polio vaccine has engineered another medical breakthrough. And as the University of Pittsburgh pioneers new developments in the world of concussion detection and treatment, it could have lasting effects on the Pitt Panthers' teams. According to a report from Abby Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Dr. David Okonkwo, a professor of neurological surgery at Pitt, has created an FDA approved a lad-quality device of his team's creation that is capable of detecting concussions quickly. It could be used in hospitals, in the field and, potentially, on the sidelines of football games and other sporting events.
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News | Apr 22, 2024
A genetic study involving more than 1.2 million people has pinpointed 95 genetic loci that are associated with risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including 80 loci that had not been previously known.
The Scope, Stanford Medicine | Apr 18, 2024
In March, Harrison Chow, MD, and colleagues at Stanford Medicine published a report in The American Journal of Psychiatry about two patients, whose trauma symptoms improved after anesthetic-induced dreaming during surgery. One was the mother of a child who died by suicide. The other patient was a 72-year-old woman who had lost her son to a college fraternity hazing incident in 2000.
Nature | Apr 18, 2024
Almost three decades have passed since the first posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) neuroimaging study was published. Since then, the field of clinical neuroscience has made advancements in understanding the neural correlates of PTSD to create more efficacious treatment strategies. While gold-standard psychotherapy options are available, many patients do not respond to them, prematurely drop out, or never initiate treatment. Therefore, elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms that define the disorder can help guide clinician decision-making and develop individualized mechanisms-based treatment options.
The Magazine of Harvard Medical School | Apr 16, 2024
The ability of odors to bring to mind past experiences has intriguing scientific and therapeutic implications.
CBC | Apr 15, 2024
When COVID-19 first reared its head back in 2019, it brought with it a slew of strange symptoms beyond just respiratory problems. One of the most puzzling symptoms in those early days was something called "brain fog" — cognitive issues like confusion, forgetfulness, and trouble focusing.
EurekAlert! | Apr 12, 2024
A generative artificial intelligence (AI) model that can analyze the narrative accounts of women who have undergone recent childbirth has shown the ability to accurately screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD), a study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system has found. By exploring the capabilities and shortcomings of several models from OpenAI, including ChatGPT, the researchers identified a version that offers rich insights into maternal mental health following traumatic childbirth.
ABC, Australia | Apr 11, 2024
Melbourne researchers say they have discovered a blood protein that could help detect children with ongoing concussion symptoms weeks after an injury. Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) said levels of a protein called Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (alpha-1-ACT) appeared significantly lower in children who had a delayed recovery from injury. According to MCRI, one in five children will have had a concussion by the time they are 16.
Newsweek | Apr 11, 2024
he physical scars of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine are often laid out in painstaking detail — the blood, the gore, the shattered towns and the leveled buildings are plain to see. Less clear at first sight, however, is the mental burden the ongoing war has caused for many Ukrainians, both within the borders of the battle-scarred country and elsewhere across the globe.
BBC | Apr 11, 2024
Scientists in Devon hope to reduce the impact of brain fog in people with long Covid using computer games. The University of Exeter's Beacon Project used the brain's problem-solving abilities to help memory and cognition, staff said. They added such games had been used in studies into the mental decline of older people and it was hoped similar work could help post-viral conditions.
News-Medical | Apr 9, 2024
Previous studies have suggested that combat veterans who develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at three to four times the risk for future dementia, which may be attributed to genetic risk factors. In a recent study published in Nature Mental Health, researchers identify shared genetic loci among military veterans with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).
The New York Times | Apr 9, 2024
In perhaps its clearest admission that football can cause degenerative brain disease, the N.F.L.’s top health and safety official admitted Monday that there was a link between the sport and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease found in dozens of retired players.
KFF Health News | Apr 8, 2024
Researchers from Boston University’s School of Medicine have identified an inflammatory protein circulating in spinal fluid that may reflect the presence of CTE in patients’ brains.
American Legion | Apr 8, 2024
The American Legion issued a letter of support this week to Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., for his work on behalf of H.R. 5633, Veteran Suicide Prevention Act. The legislation would mandate the examination and disclosure of vital information regarding opioids, psychotropic medications and other relevant factors in veteran suicide cases. It would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include data on combat experience, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and military sexual trauma in its annual report. “This bill represents a crucial step toward a more thorough understanding of the complex interplay between trauma and suicide risk among veterans,” American Legion National Commander Daniel Seehafer wrote.
