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.

Erica Hayes, 40, hasn't felt healthy since November 2020 when she first fell ill with COVID. Hayes is too sick to work, so she's spent much of the last four years sitting on her beige couch, often curled up under an electric blanket. "My blood flow now sucks, so my hands and my feet are freezing. Even if I'm sweating my toes are cold," says Hayes, who lives in Western Pennsylvania. She misses feeling well enough to play with her 9-year-old son, or attend her 17-year-old son's baseball games.

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.

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a not-for-profit company in California to proceed with clinical trials to study the effectiveness of smoking cannabis to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. MAPS — the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies — will initiate the short-term study of veterans who will smoke marijuana and report their reactions to the drug by using a mobile app, according to a letter from the FDA approving the clinical trials.

 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.

When the Chiefs selected Michigan State defensive lineman Ed Lothamer 26th overall in the 1964 AFL Draft, they weren’t to be deterred when Baltimore also chose him in the rival NFL’s fifth round. Even though Lothamer anticipated playing in the well-established league instead of for the upstart AFL, ever-resolute Chiefs (and AFL) founder Lamar Hunt had his own notion.

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.

A new study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma looked at the effectiveness of residential and intensive outpatient programs for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active military.

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.

Researchers from VCU and Lund University found that women have a higher genetic risk for the disorder compared with men.