Summary of Lingering Brain Injury Symptoms Haunts Concussion Patients:
According to research from the University of Cambridge, mild concussions can cause long-term symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. The brain’s relay system, the thalamus, becomes hyperconnected following a trauma, even if routine brain scans reveal no apparent structural damage. Researchers found that such overcompensation may explain ongoing symptoms suffered by patients. Researchers have found associations between neurotransmitters and long-term symptoms by analyzing PET scans, showing hope for developing new, targeted treatments. As concussion numbers rise worldwide, the study noted that many patients might not receive adequate post-injury care.
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Mild Concussions can Cause Long-Lasting Brain Effects.
Mild concussions, which can occur due to a blow or jolt to the head, have been found to have long-lasting effects on the brain. Researchers at the University of Cambridge analyzed data from a Europe-wide study. They discovered that the brain regions communicate differently for almost half of all individuals who receive a concussion, potentially causing long-term symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. Despite the lack of structural damage in routine brain scans, the study found that the thalamus, the brain’s relay system, becomes hyperconnected following a concussion, leading to overcompensation that might be the root of persistent symptoms experienced by patients.
Predicting the Recovery of Concussion Patients is Challenging
New research has shown that predicting which patients will recover faster and who will take longer to recover from a concussion is challenging for clinicians. While smaller studies indicate 90% of patients will fully recover after six months, recent evidence suggests that only 50% fully recover, leaving a significant proportion at risk of not receiving adequate post-injury care. However, mild concussions are associated with incomplete recovery, and patients might experience symptoms such as depression, headaches, cognitive impairment, and fatigue.
Hyperconnectivity of the Thalamus Contributes to Long-Term Symptoms
Patients with concussion experience hyperconnectivity in the thalamus, associated with long-lasting symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and cognitive impairment. In a study of 108 patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), researchers found that just under half still experienced symptoms resulting from their injury. The study compared fMRI scans from those patients to scans from 76 healthy volunteers. Surprisingly, the scans showed that concussion was associated with increased connectivity between the thalamus and the rest of the brain–in other words, the thalamus was trying to communicate more due to the injury–and the more effective this connectivity, the poorer the prognosis for the patient.
Targeted Treatments May be Possible in the Future.
Researchers studying PET scans discovered long-term patient symptoms might be associated with specific neurotransmitters. For instance, patients with cognitive problems such as memory difficulties had increased connectivity between the thalamus and areas of the brain rich in the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. Meanwhile, patients that experienced emotional symptoms, such as depression or irritability, showed more excellent connectivity with regio-brain regions in serotonin. Such discoveries could enable the development of targeted treatments for each patient’s specific symptoms.
Conclusion
Mild concussions can have long-lasting effects on the brain, leading to cognitive impairment, fatigue, poor concentration, and headaches. Despite no apparent structural damage, there is evidence that the thalamus becomes hyperconnected, leading to overcompensation that may be the source of persistent symptoms. Predicting the recovery of a concussion patient is complex, and treatment depends heavily on symptoms. However, discoveries about neurotransmitter associations might enable targeted therapies addressing each patient’s symptoms.
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