Researchers Find a Neurological Basis for Depression After Concussion

Depression is one of the many symptoms experienced by athletes following concussion. In fact, the prevalence of depression in head trauma patients can be as high as 40 percent.

This latest study on concussion in athletes comes from the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University, where researchers report that they have identified the neurological basis of depression in athletes who have had concussions. Imaging tests done with functional MRI on athletes who had depression following a concussion showed the same pattern of brain activation as patients with major depression.

Other studies have also shown a link between a history of brain injury and a higher probability of developing major depression later in life.

• One study found that of 2552 retired pro football players, over 11 percent of those with a history of multiple concussions also had a diagnosis of clinical depression. Players reporting three or more previous concussions were three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with no history of concussion.
• Another study by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine reported finding structural changes in the white matter of the brains of patients with reported head injuries, with the most severe head injuries showing the most structural change. These structural changes correlate to cognitive deficits in thinking, memory and attention. They also found that some mild head injuries caused damage only to the outer surface of the nerve (the myelin sheath of an axon), which may be able to be repaired but more severe head injuries caused damage to the axon itself, which may not be as easily repaired. If an axon is severed, it is unlikely that it can repair itself.

  
  Learn about myelin and nerve structure.

  What to Do If You Suffer a Head Injury During Sports
  This is critical information for anyone who plays a sport where a head injury is possible. The take away message is that if you suffer any head injury, stop playing and sit out the rest of the game. Even if you think it’s a mild bump on the head, you may have minor damage that can be repaired. If you return to play, you risk making that mild injury a permanent one.

  Read More about Concussions
  

  • What is a Concussion?
  • Serious Effects of Mild Concussions
  • Girls Suffering More Concussions in High School Sports
  • Link Between Concussions and Depression
  • Concussion Symptoms and Treatment
  • First Aid Treatment for Head Injuries

  More Information:

  • Read the Medical News Today article about the study
  • Concussion Symptoms and Treatment
  • First aid treatment for head injuries