Multiple concussions linked with reduced brain function

Tuesday January 31st 2023

Having three or more concussions could result in worsened brain function in later life, the largest study of its kind reveals today.

A team, led by the University of Oxford and the University of Exeter, also discovered that one moderate-to-severe concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) can also lead to a long-term impact on brain function, including memory.

Writing in the *Journal of Neurotrauma*, the researchers say people who have had concussions should be warned of the dangers of continuing high-risk sport or work.

The study comprised data from more than 15,000 UK-based participants in the online PROTECT study. They were all aged between 50 and 90 and they reported the severity and frequency of concussions they had experienced throughout their lives, and completed annual, computerised tests for brain function.

Individuals who reported three or more concussions had significantly worse cognitive function, which got successively worse with each subsequent concussion. Particularly affected were attention and ability to complete complex tasks.

Lead investigator Dr Vanessa Raymont, from the University of Oxford, said: “We know that head injuries are a major risk factor for dementia, and this large-scale study gives the greatest detail to date on a stark finding - the more times you injure your brain in life, the worse your brain function could be as you age.

“Our research indicates that people who have experienced three or more even mild episodes of concussion should be counselled on whether to continue high-risk activities. We should also encourage organisations operating in areas where head impact is more likely to consider how they can protect their athletes or employees.”

Study co-author Dr Helen Brooker, from the University of Exeter, added: “We’re learning that life events that might seem insignificant, life experiencing a mild concussion, can have an impact on the brain.

“Our findings indicate that cognitive rehabilitation should focus on key functions such as attention and completion of complex tasks, which we found to be susceptible to long-term damage.”

Lifetime TBI and cognitive domain deficits in late life: The PROTECT-TBI cohort study. * Journal of Neurotrauma* 31 January 2023; doi: 10.1089/neu.2022.0360

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Fitness | UK News

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