TEENS ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO CONCUSSIONS

By: Dave Gordon




Teenagers with sports-related head injuries had working memory problems for up to a year after accidents, according to researchers at the University of Montreal. The affected areas of mental functioning include those which are necessary for math, reading and learning. The study, which was published in the journal Brain Injury, follows similar studies on the long-term repercussions of concussions among professional athletes that have found links between injuries and dementia. Mildly traumatic brain injuries occur when the head speeds up or slows down rapidly, causing the brain to move in the skull. Symptoms include headaches, confusion and amnesia. Researchers advise parents and coaches to be aware of the danger of concussions, and work to make sports safer for teens.