News & Headlines

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KQED (NPR) | May 21, 2025

For the first time in over 50 years, emergency room doctors will have a new framework to assess people with head injuries from car or bike crashes, falls and assaults.

Existing assessment protocols for traumatic brain injury rely on broad, vague measures that filter patients into three categories based on their symptoms: mild, moderate and severe. Doctors hope the new classification system, published Tuesday in The Lancet Neurology, will bring more detail to diagnosis and more nuance to treatment.

The Economist | May 21, 2025

Modifying rules and grouping players by size rather than age can limit the risks

Nature | May 21, 2025

Moving beyond a single threshold could help clinicians intervene earlier and improve patient outcomes after brain injuries.

The New York Times | May 21, 2025

Nearly 100 neurology experts collaborated on the creation of a new method of evaluating patients with traumatic brain injuries.

The Atlantic | May 21, 2025

For decades, Eve Baer remained convinced that her son, unresponsive after a severe brain injury, was still conscious. Science eventually proved her right.

The proposed termination of medical research funded by the V.A. is part of the Trump administration’s broader pressure campaign against the university. | May 21, 2025

The Trump administration’s move to cancel an array of federal contracts at Harvard University has set off an internal clash over the impact on medical research intended to help veterans, including projects involving suicide prevention, toxic particle exposure and prostate cancer screening, according to emails reviewed by The New York Times.

The New York Times | May 14, 2025

His friend and fellow cop killed himself. Then he nearly became a statistic as well. Why do more police officers die by suicide than in the line of duty?

BBC | May 14, 2025

A total of 40% of a group of claimants in a concussion lawsuit against rugby union authorities played in the back row, according to new data seen by the BBC.

The Conversation | May 14, 2025

During Game 1 of the Maple Leafs’ ongoing playoff series against the Florida Panthers, Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was struck in the head by Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

Although Stolarz remained in the game for several minutes following the hit, he eventually skated to the bench, vomited and exited the ice.

While it’s unclear whether he was officially diagnosed with a concussion, the incident has once again reignited concern over brain injuries in hockey.

The New York Times | May 14, 2025

The process for pulling an NHL player from a game due to a potential concussion is complex.

The league introduced concussion spotters during the 2015-16 season as part of its initial concussion protocols, but over time, the way those spotters interact with events on the ice has evolved.

It’s up to those remote officials — and not the in-arena spotters, who are not necessarily athletic trainers or therapists — to determine whether a player needs to be removed immediately for concussion testing or if it’s a discretionary call to be made by the team’s medical staff.

ESPN | May 6, 2025

The Trump administration's 2026 fiscal budget request to Congress eliminates major federal funding for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and education, potentially undercutting efforts to address head injuries in sports, particularly at the high school and youth levels.

The Conversation | May 2, 2025

Australia has a humanitarian and legal responsibility to support the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers so they can recover and thrive. So, what mental health support is available for refugees when they arrive in Australia?

Billboard | May 2, 2025

In recent years, artists have been doing their part to destigmatize mental health issues by opening up about their own experiences. Here's what they've said.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation | May 2, 2025

Regan Ballantine's 17-year-old son Wes died on a construction site in 2017, sparking a long journey through the courts as she fought for justice, and also in the public arena as she campaigned for improved workplace safety laws.

But her advocacy had a hidden cost.

Privately, Regan was struggling with complex PTSD that refused to budge despite years of costly attempts with various therapies.

That was until she came across the emerging field of MDMA-assisted therapy, which only became possible under tightly-controlled circumstances in 2023 after a landmark TGA decision.

Listen as she describes the compelling story of her treatment, and how she finally feels "unburdened".

"I was carrying something so heavy," she says. "I just feel free."

KPBS | Apr 24, 2025

"A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story" highlights the journeys of three United States veterans struggling to adapt to life back home. All three suffered from PTSD after returning from serving overseas, and each has found hope and new ways to handle their stress and emotional challenges through the aid of a companion dog.

BBC | Apr 24, 2025

A brain injury survivor from Clapham will attempt to set a new world record for the fastest male London Marathon runner dressed as a body part.

Alex Paget will race dressed as a giant brain, to raise money for the charity Headway which supported him as he dealt with post-concussion syndrome.

He also wants to raise awareness of the condition, which he developed shortly after falling off his bike and hitting his head in 2021.

He said wearing such a "ridiculous" costume along the 26.2-mile challenge will symbolise his recovery - and help the charity in helping other brain injury survivors.

ESPN | Apr 18, 2025

The photos on the wall of Heather Hardy's small office inside Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn chronicle the former champion's 11-year professional career. Now a year into forced retirement after taking brain-damaging blows in the ring, the 43-year-old tries to hold it together as the photos stir up memories of better days.

Hardy says she wants to help reform a boxing-management system that has left many fighters feeling exploited and does too little to educate them on smart health and financial choices during their careers. 

STAT | Apr 17, 2025

‘They say they care about us, then they cut us’

Veteran Karen Hollitt graduated from therapy in 2020, hadn’t needed medication since 2022. Her flashbacks had stopped bothering her; she could talk matter-of-factly about those horrific memories without spiraling. She could be present in her everyday life. With her livelihood at risk, though, that began to slip.

Science | Apr 14, 2025

Little noticed among the casualties of last week’s mass firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was the group of scientists who researched traumatic brain injury (TBI) at CDC’s injury center. All five lost their jobs.

BBC | Apr 8, 2025

Lowering the tackle height in men's rugby almost halved the rate of head collisions among players, a study at Edinburgh University has found.

WAMU (NPR) | Apr 7, 2025

Researchers are studying psychedelics as a possible treatment for conditions like depression, PTSD and substance use disorders. But they don't know exactly how these drugs work.

Getting the answer to this question is especially difficult when people often take psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin for their trademark "trips."

Some researchers think these psychoactive, spiritual effects are a big part of why patients could benefit from psychedelic drugs. Other researchers think these drugs' power may lie in the ways they alter brain chemistry or structure.

This week on Short Wave, we're talking to researchers about how they're trying to untangle these trippy factors of psychedelic medicine ... and why the answer could help direct the future of the industry.

Psychology Today | Apr 7, 2025

A popular diagnosis, C-PTSD does not stand up to scrutiny.

Stars and Stripes | Apr 3, 2025

The bill — called the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act or SAVES Act — would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time to award grants to nonprofits to provide service dogs at no cost to veterans with disabilities.

BBC | Apr 3, 2025

Many people swear that cold water swimming has a positive effect on their mental health and wellbeing.

Now research is being done to see if there is science behind the theory that taking an ice-cold dip can help tackle post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The New York Times | Apr 3, 2025

Easy everyday habits can help keep you sharp. And it’s never too late to start them.