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Biomarker tests could help to diagnose people with mild traumatic brain injury when scans show nothing.

When Steven Simpson left the army after serving in Iraq, he spiralled into depression and was diagnosed with PTSD before finding the help he needed.

A Harvard University survey reveals that one-third of former professional football players believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by concussions and repeated head hits. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, is one of the largest to date on former NFL players' perceptions of their cognitive health and symptoms linked to CTE. Out of 1,980 respondents, 681 believed they had CTE, while over 230 had experienced suicidal thoughts and 176 had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

In Waves and Warn tells the story of Navy SEALS who are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan time and time again, only to return stateside and experience a different type of war: a battle on their bodies and brains. The documentary, which premiered at the DOC NYC film festival, reveals how nightmares, explosive outbursts, severe pain, alcoholism and depression consumed the lives of these wartime heroes. Hopelessness and suicidal thoughts were the only way out, until they discovered an experimental treatment called ibogaine.

A study led by the University of Glasgow has revealed differences in the brains of pediatric and adult patients that might explain the sometimes catastrophic outcomes seen in children following a traumatic brain injury.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham (U.K.) discovered an approach for treating mild traumatic brain injuries using photobiomodulation (PBM; see video)—also known as low-level laser therapy, which can increase cellular metabolism and stimulate cells and tissues. The team’s now-patented approach relies on red and near-infrared (near-IR) light in the 600- to 1000-nm wavelength range, where it can be absorbed by cytochrome-c oxidase, the main light-sensitive molecule in mitochondria. This aids cellular respiration, the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP; an energy source essential for healthy brain function) molecules, modulation of oxidative stress, and reduced free radical production. It also triggers cell signaling and gene transcription.

New research shows that stress impacts how memories are formed and recalled, contributing to generalized memories typical in PTSD. By targeting endocannabinoid receptors, scientists can potentially refine memory retrieval, advancing PTSD therapy.

 A longitudinal neuroimaging study of adolescents found that their brains underwent accelerated aging between 2018 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This was evidenced by increased thinning of the cortex region of the brain in these individuals. On average, brains of girls aged an additional 4.2 years during this period, while brains of boys aged an additional 1.4 years. These findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and shed light on the potential neurological impact of prolonged social isolation and stress during the pandemic.

A commentary, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, calls for traumatic brain injury to be recognized as a chronic condition as are diabetes, asthma, depression and heart failure.

As a player, Andrew Cordssen-David suffered concussions that weren’t always caught by current protocols. As the founder of HeadFirst Inc., he hopes his more objective, rapid test will be a game changer.

There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic attacks and other symptoms so severe she feared she would die overnight. Among them are normally innocuous statements such as, "Feel better soon" or "Wishing you a quick recovery," the Kenyan businesswoman said, shaking her head. Gichohi, 41, knows such phrases are well-intentioned. "I think you have to accept, for me, it’s not going to happen." Recent scientific studies shed new light on the experience of millions of patients like Gichohi. They suggest the longer someone is sick, the lower their chances of making a full recovery.

Intense stress can lead to fuzzy memories, which can lead to more generalized fear responses. Now, scientists may have just discovered why. A study in mice, published Friday (Nov. 15) in the journal Cell, suggests that stress hormones can distort how memories are recorded, leading to less-precise recollections and a future tendency to be unable to properly distinguish between safe triggers and threats. The new findings could help uncover new avenues to treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder.