- UVA researchers have discovered that concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), even when mild, cause swelling that blocks the brain’s ability to clean itself of harmful toxins and debris.
- In addition to an immediate impact on memory and brain inflammation, this may set the stage for Alzheimer’s, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- The discovery helps explain why repeated brain injuries are so harmful and suggests they up the risk of long-term problems.
- It also suggests a reason why blows to the head affect different people differently.
- The findings point to a new approach to treating brain injury and could lead to a better way to determine when it is safe for athletes and military personnel to resume their duties.
Newswise — Even mild concussions cause severe and long-lasting impairments in the brain’s ability to clean itself of toxins, and this may…
