Can a concussion cause cognitive impairment?

Can a concussion cause cognitive impairment?

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion, is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. With mTBI comes symptoms that include headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety and irritability, as well as impaired cognitive function.

How does a concussion impact a person’s cognitive function?

The neurocognitive domains most susceptible to the acute effects of concussion, include attention and concentration, cognitive processing speed/efficiency, learning and memory, working memory, executive function and verbal fluency.

What are the potential long-term effects of repeat concussions?

The long-term effects of repeated concussions can be responsible for everything from headaches to personality changes to forgetfulness. This condition is often known as post-concussion syndrome.

How can brain trauma in injuries affect cognitive function?

Cognitive impairments due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) are substantial sources of morbidity for affected individuals, their family members, and society. Disturbances of attention, memory, and executive functioning are the most common neurocognitive consequences of TBI at all levels of severity.

Can a childhood head injury cause problems years later?

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Young people who suffer even mild head trauma are more likely to have serious issues later on, including psychiatric problems and premature death, a new study suggests.

Can blood tests show brain problems?

Blood tests can: check your general health, including how well your liver and kidneys are working. check numbers of blood cells. help diagnose certain brain tumours such as pituitary gland, pineal region and germ cell tumours.

Can blood test detect brain damage?

Our i-STAT TBI plasma test is the first rapid handheld traumatic brain injury (TBI) blood test, which will help clinicians assess individuals with suspected mild TBIs, including concussions. Tests results are available within 15 minutes after plasma is placed in the test cartridge.

Why is it hard to treat brain damage?

Many neurological disorders are difficult to treat because of a natural barrier in the brain. The blood-brain barrier is a specialized system of cells that acts as a gatekeeper for the brain, blocking harmful substances from entering while allowing in necessary nutrients.

What tests are used to diagnose concussions?

Brain imaging may determine whether the injury is severe and has caused bleeding or swelling in the skull. A cranial computerized tomography (CT) scan is the standard test in adults to assess the brain right after injury. A CT scan uses a series of X-rays to obtain cross-sectional images of your skull and brain.

What tests are done to check for concussion?

Since the symptoms of a concussion may vary, your doctor will likely order tests to determine whether your injury caused a concussion….These include:

• a physical exam.
• a CT scan.
• an MRI scan.
• X-rays.
• brain wave monitoring via electroencephalogram (EEG)