Introduction
Concussions, a form of mild traumatic brain injury, affect millions of people annually through sports, accidents, and everyday mishaps. These injuries disrupt the brain’s balance, often leaving individuals with symptoms that ripple across their lives. By diving into the complex changes a concussion brings, from the initial impact to the body’s attempts to heal, we can better understand how to prevent, diagnose, and recover from these injuries.
What defines a concussion?
A Concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when there is movement of the brain inside your skull often due to external forces, for instance a blow to the head, violent shaking, or rapid acceleration such as whiplash. Unlike severe brain injuries, concussions do not lead to visual structural damage to the brain and skull. Concussions lead to changes on the cellular level impacting metabolic processes.
Neurological Changes During & Post-Concussion
During the impact of a concussion, the neurons in the brain undergo stretching and shearing, this disrupts their function and leads to a sequence of events
Ion Imbalance: The impact on the head disrupts chemiosmosis, causing a release of potassium and calcium which impairs cellular communication.
Energy Crisis: To restore the flow of energy the brain consumes glucose, creating an energy deficit.
Inflammation: Inflammatory responses are triggered in the brain which can further damage surrounding neural tissue.
Impaired Connectivity: TBI can alter the communication pathways between different regions of the brain, leading to cognitive impairment and physical symptoms.
The Brain’s Response & Symptoms
The brain's response to a concussion is immediate and complex. Initially, there is a period of altered consciousness and confusion, and 1 out of 10 concussions result in a full loss of consciousness. On the cellular level, there is a disruption of the brain's ability to perform routine tasks which causes most of the symptoms:
Physical: Headaches, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light are the most common and are often linked to damage to the cerebellum.
Cognitive: Difficulty concentrating, memory issues, confusion, and brain fog, typically associated with damage to the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
Emotional: Mood swings, Anxiety, and irritability are frequently tied to disruption in the hypothalamus.
Recovery
The recovery time for a concussion varies due to the severity of your injury but still involves similar elements. Rest both cognitive and physical is essential after receiving a TBI so there is no further damage, rest makes it possible to introduce a gradual return to normal activities as symptoms lessen. It is important to maintain an evaluation from healthcare providers to track progress and avoid complications such as Post-Concussion Syndrome.
Sources:
“How Long Does a Concussion Last?” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15038-concussion.
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“Concussion.” AANS,
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Danielli, Ethan, et al. "A Review of Brain Regions and Associated Post-concussion Symptoms." Frontiers in Neurology, vol. 14, 2023, p. 1136367, https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1136367.
Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
CDC. “Concussion Basics.” HEADS UP, 18 Oct. 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/about/index.html.
Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.
CDC. “Signs and Symptoms of Concussion.” HEADS UP, 23 Aug. 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html.
Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.