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Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms: The Overlooked Cause of Depression, Anxiety, and Brain Fog

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Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms The Overlooked Cause of Depression, Anxiety, and Brain Fog
Persistent post-concussion symptoms can trigger anxiety, depression, and brain fog. Discover how to heal your brain.

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Can a Mild Head Injury Cause Lasting Mood & Memory Problems?

It’s a harsh truth, but a single blow to the head can have a lasting impact on your life. After experiencing head trauma, a person who once enjoyed a lifetime of emotional stability, healthy energy levels, and mental clarity can sink into depression, addiction, brain fog, and more.

What’s especially troubling is the fact they many people don’t realize that a head injury is the source of their mental health issues. When they seek help for their problems, traditional treatments often fail because the underlying brain injury isn’t being treated.

This can lead to months, years, or even decades of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems that can sabotage your career, relationships, and health.

In this blog, you’ll discover just how common mild head injuries are, how to recognize persistent post-concussion symptoms, and what you can do about it.

Millions of people suffer from persistent post-concussion symptoms, which includes a wide range of cognitive and psychological issues. But most of them don’t realize that their mental health issues may be related to a mild head injury.

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How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries (Tbi)?

Every year, over 2 million new head injuries are diagnosed in the U.S., and millions more go undetected. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are increasingly common among military personnel, with an estimated 67 percent of veterans experiencing at least one TBI.  

The number of concussions is on the rise. Research shows that from 2010 to 2015, concussion diagnoses jumped 43 percent among the general population. among people ages 10 to 19 years of age, concussion diagnoses skyrocketed 71 percent.

Among Amen Clinics patients, mild head injuries are common. Based on the Amen Clinics database of nearly 300,000 brain SPECT scans, 40 percent of patients have suffered a brain injury. However, most of them don’t realize that their mental health issues may be related to a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) they suffered in the past.

Many people who sustain a concussion recover from their symptoms, but an alarming number of them may develop mental health issues that ruin their life and steal their happiness. There’s a strong connection between concussion and mental health issues.

In fact, millions of people struggle with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), formerly known as post-concussion syndrome.

Are you one of them? How can you know if you have lingering concussion symptoms? Look for these 10 common signs of post-concussion syndrome.

What Are Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms?

1. Brain Fog

Following a head injury, you may feel confused or mentally fuzzy. Difficulties with problem-solving and reasoning are common complaints of post-concussion brain fog.

Some people experience a feeling that everything is “slowed down.” It may take you longer to read an article or book or to understand the content. You may find it hard to follow conversations, television shows, or directions.

Related: Common Causes of Brain Fog (And How to Fix It)

2. Memory Problems

Memory loss can arise after experiencing a head injury. For example, you may have difficulty remembering new information.

It is also quite common to have trouble recalling the time period prior to the concussion. Some people experience memory lapses, forgetting parts of conversations or events.

3. Feeling Depressed

It’s common to experience emotional symptoms after concussion. In fact, depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders associated with head injuries.

Research in the Journal of Neurotrauma shows that depression affects about 33 to 42 percent of people within the first year of experiencing a TBI.

The number of people developing major depressive disorder jumps to 61 percent within the first seven years after a TBI, according to the study’s findings.

Women are especially vulnerable to post-concussion depression. According to an analysis of nine studies, women are nearly 50 percent more likely than their male counterparts to develop depression after experiencing a concussion or other TBI. 

If you’re experiencing depressive symptoms that don’t respond to traditional treatment, it’s worth investigating if an underlying concussion or TBI may be contributing to these issues.

4. Anxiety

Research shows that TBI patients are 1.9 times more likely to have anxiety than people who haven’t experienced a brain injury. Post-concussion anxiety issues may include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Specific phobia
  • Social anxiety disorder

Any anxiousness, nervousness, panic, obsessions, or compulsions that arise post-concussion deserve attention.

5. Focus and Attention Problems

If you have experienced a head injury, even if you don’t remember hitting your head, you may have difficulty paying attention, concentrating, of staying focused.

Completing projects, multitasking, or engaging in long conversations may be challenging. You may find yourself feeling restless or being easily distracted. Research shows there is an increased likelihood of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after a TBI.

Related: Can a Head Injury Cause Adult ADHD Symptoms?

6. Substance Abuse

Findings in the Journal of Neurotrauma show that TBI can increase the use of alcohol or drugs in people who had no previous substance abuse. Drug or alcohol addictions also impede the recovery process after a head injury.

7. Aggression

One of the most common personality changes following a head injury is an increase in aggression. According to a study in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, nearly 30 percent of people with a first-time TBI experience post-concussion aggression.

Any increases in irritability, anger, or aggressive behavior could be a lingering symptom related to prior head trauma.

8. Fatigue

Being chronically tired and having a lack of energy are frequent complaints heard from people who have experienced concussions.

Many people assume their fatigue is related to stress, age, or other issues, so they don’t make the connection to a past brain injury.

9. Insomnia

Having trouble sleeping, whether it’s difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, is a common post-concussion symptom. Poor quality sleep is often tied to the fatigue people experience.

10. Low Motivation

Along with a lack of energy, people who have suffered a TBI often notice a decline in motivation. Even if they had previously been a go-getter, they no longer have the get-up-and-go to actively pursue their goals at work or in life.

Patients at Amen Clinics whose brain scans show damage from head trauma often say they have been labeled as “lazy.”

If you have some of these symptoms, and especially if they aren’t responding to standard treatment, it’s critical to dig deeper to find the root cause.

HOW CAN BRAIN IMAGING HELP POST-CONCUSSION TREATMENT?

One of the biggest challenges with post-concussion symptoms is that they’re often invisible. You can look perfectly fine on the outside while struggling with brain fog, mood swings, headaches, or fatigue on the inside.

Traditional imaging tools like MRI or CT scans typically only show structural damage, such as bleeding or swelling, but they can miss the subtle functional changes that cause lingering symptoms.

At Amen Clinics, we use brain SPECT imaging to see how your brain is actually working. SPECT measures blood flow and activity patterns, revealing areas that are underactive (often linked to concentration problems and memory loss) or overactive (commonly tied to anxiety, depression, and irritability).

These scans frequently uncover hidden brain injuries that standard imaging cannot detect.

With this deeper level of insight, specialists can design a personalized post-concussion treatment plan to target your brain’s specific needs. This may include therapies that improve circulation and oxygenation, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), along with neurofeedback, nutritional support, and strategies to calm overactive regions.

By addressing the precise areas of dysfunction, brain imaging helps guide healing, restore balance, and reduce persistent post-concussion symptoms.

You need a well-structured evening routine to help you prime both your body and brain for uninterrupted rest.

Align your mindset, habits, and environment so you can reduce stimulation and signal to your nervous system that it’s time to wind down. If you take small, intentional steps consistently, you can make a major difference. 

Studies show that ideally, a sleep-supportive routine should start about two hours before bedtime. It will train your brain to associate these cues with rest and make it easier for you to fall and stay asleep. Below is a sample flow you can consider adapting:

FAQ ABOUT POST-CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

At Amen Clinics, we go beyond symptom checklists. Using brain SPECT imaging, we can identify areas with abnormal activity caused by head trauma. These scans often reveal brain injury patterns that traditional MRI or CT scans miss, helping our clinicians link your emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms to underlying brain changes.

We create personalized, brain-based treatment plans that promote healing from the inside out. Depending on your scan results and full assessment, your plan may include hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to improve blood flow, neurofeedback to retrain brain activity, nutritional and lifestyle support, targeted supplements, and psychotherapy to restore cognitive and emotional function.

Yes. Healing is possible, even years after a concussion. Many Amen Clinics patients who struggled with fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, or focus problems for years have seen significant improvement after receiving proper diagnosis and targeted treatment. By addressing the brain directly, we help you regain clarity, energy, and emotional balance.


Concussions, TBIs, and the mental health issues associated with them can’t wait.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer a comprehensive Concussion Rescue treatment program, in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. 

Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

Amen Clinics

Founded in 1989 by double-board certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist Daniel G. Amen, MD, Amen Clinics Inc. (ACI) is known as the best brain and mental health company in the world. Our clinical staff includes over 50 healthcare specialists, including adult and child psychiatrists, integrative (functional) medicine physicians, naturopaths, addiction specialists, forensic psychiatrists, geriatric psychiatrists, nutritionists, licensed therapists, and more. Our clinicians have all been hand-selected and personally trained by Dr. Amen, whose mission is to end mental illness by creating a revolution in brain health. Over the last 35-plus years, ACI has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans—over 250,000 SPECT scans on patients from 155 countries—related to how people think, feel, and behave.

  1. Brain Injury Association of America. Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Service Members Receives Widespread Media Coverage. Dec. 17, 2024.

    https://biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/news/incidence-of-traumatic-brain-injury-in-military-service-members-receives-widespread-media-coverage

  2. Morgan, K. Why childhood concussion diagnoses have skyrocketed. USA Today. Jan. 24, 2019. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/blue-cross-blue-shield-association/2019/01/24/why-childhood-concussion-diagnoses-have-skyrocketed/2658679002/

  3. Fann, Jesse R et al. “Treatment for depression after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.” Journal of neurotrauma vol. 26,12 (2009): 2383-402. doi:10.1089/neu.2009.1091

  4. American Association of Anesthesiologist. Women at much higher risk of depression after traumatic brain injury, analysis finds. Oct. 15, 2023. https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2023/10/women-at-much-higher-risk-of-depression

  5. Dehbozorgi, M., Maghsoudi, M.R., Mohammadi, I. et al. Incidence of anxiety after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Neurol 24, 293 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-024-03791-0

  6. Schachar RJ, Park LS, Dennis M. Mental Health Implications of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children and Youth. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Fall;24(2):100-8. Epub 2015 Aug 31. PMID: 26379721; PMCID: PMC4558980.

  7. Bjork, James M, and Steven J Grant. “Does traumatic brain injury increase risk for substance abuse?.” Journal of neurotrauma vol. 26,7 (2009): 1077-82. doi:10.1089/neu.2008.0849

  8. Rao, Vani et al. “Aggression after traumatic brain injury: prevalence and correlates.” The Journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences vol. 21,4 (2009): 420-9. doi:10.1176/jnp.2009.21.4.420

If you go to a psychiatrist for anxiety, depression, attention problems, anger issues, or another “mental illness,” you’re likely to be asked a number of questions about your symptoms, your feelings, and your family history.

But there’s one question most psychiatrists—and other healthcare professionals—never ask but should:

“Have you ever had a head injury?”

There’s one question most psychiatrists—and other healthcare professionals—never ask but should: “Have you ever had a head injury?”
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Why is this question so important? In years past, experts believed that mild head injuries were innocuous. However, emerging research confirms that mild head trauma—even if you don’t black out or aren’t diagnosed with a concussion—can impact brain function and lead to serious neuropsychological issues.

In this blog, you’ll learn how common head injuries are, how concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries impact mental health, why it’s common to forget about a past head injury, and how to heal the brain to help your mental wellness.

HOW COMMON ARE CONCUSSIONS?

According to statistics, about 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) annually. Some 80% of them are categorized as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) or concussions.

Millions more head injuries go unreported because the person doesn’t think the injury is severe enough to seek treatment.

Head injuries are common among patients at Amen Clinics, which has treated over 100,000 people over the past 30-plus years. In fact, its database of more than 300,000 brain SPECT scans shows that 40% of patients have experienced a significant brain injury before visiting one of the nationwide clinics.

COMMON CAUSES OF CONCUSSIONS

What are the most common causes of head injuries?

Note that sports injuries also include repetitive sub-concussive impacts to the head. These are mild impacts that don’t cause any immediate symptoms—no headache, no seeing stars, no feeling like you got your bell rung.

Think of a soccer player who repeatedly heads the ball or a football player who gets tackled several times per game. Research shows that these repeated head impacts can harm the brain and lead to problems later in life. 

THE LINK BETWEEN HEAD INJURIES AND MENTAL ILLNESS

Did you know that head trauma is a major cause of mental health problems? If not, you aren’t the only one. In fact, very few people—including psychiatrists—know it.

This is because most mental health professionals never look at the brains of their patients. And this is a major oversight.

A growing body of scientific research shows that concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) increase the risk of:

In some cases, mental health issues and cognitive problems occur soon after a head injury. In other instances, mental health symptoms don’t appear until months or even years after the incident.

Because of this, many people don’t make the connection between the head impact and their emotional symptoms, behavioral problems, or cognitive issues.

WHY PEOPLE FORGET PAST HEAD INJURIES

It’s astounding how many people forget they’ve had a significant head injury. At Amen Clinics, the mental health professionals routinely ask patients several times whether or not they have sustained any impacts to the head.

“Have you ever had a head injury?” is one of the many questions on patient intake paperwork. An historian, who gathers patients’ personal histories before they see the physician, asks them again about hurting their head. Sophisticated computer testing that patients complete asks a third time about impacts to the head.

Typically, when the patient meets with their physician, the question will come up yet again. If they respond no again, they’re generally asked if they’ve experienced any of the most common causes of head injuries, which were outlined above.

It’s surprising how many people think their head injuries were too insignificant to mention. For others, they simply do not remember the incident as amnesia is a common occurrence in head traumas.

When asked the question for the fifth time, one patient put his hand on his forehead and said, “Oh yeah! When I was 5 years old, I fell out of a second-story window.”

It’s hard to imagine forgetting such an incident, but many do. Some patients forget that they flew through a windshield in a car accident, smacked their head after slipping in the shower, or were knocked unconscious when they tumbled off their bicycle.

The vast majority of these people never realize the connection between their head injury and the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. And the traditional treatments they’re prescribed often don’t work because they don’t heal the underlying trauma to the brain.

You may be in the same situation. Anyone who is not responding to traditional treatment for major depressive disorder, anxiety attacks, or other mental health conditions should consider if a past head injury might be contributing to symptoms.

HEALING FROM POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME

The good news is that the brain can heal, and this can help you overcome a wide range of psychological symptoms. Strategies to enhance the brain following a concussion or other head injury include:

Neurofeedback: Learning to control your brainwaves with this noninvasive treatment can reduce the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome, according to research.

Implementing these strategies can help speed your recovery from a head injury, whether it happened recently or years earlier. When your brain is healthier, you’ll experience fewer mental illness symptoms and feel better overall.

Anxiety, depression, attention problems and other mental health issues related to head trauma can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

The country is facing an epidemic of brain injuries, and it’s fueling the mental health crisis. An estimated 1.7 million people experience a concussion each year, and millions more go undiagnosed. These mild head injuries, which can lead to a host of mental health problems, may remain hidden for decades, In some cases, they may go undetected for a lifetime. This means many people may have no idea that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be behind their depression, anxiety, memory loss, or other behavioral disorders. This can have a negative impact on every aspect of your life. In some instances, it might even change history. Mild head injuries, which can lead to a host of mental health problems, may remain hidden for decades or a lifetime.
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HOW CONCUSSIONS CAN IMPACT EVERYDAY LIFE AND HUMAN HISTORY

Consider an example nearly 500 years old that Yale neurologists have put to diagnostic scrutiny. Centuries after his erratic rule ended in 1597, scientists have been revisiting the medical history of the English King Henry VIII. This monarch wed 6 times and infamously beheaded 2 of his wives. Along the way, he caused a schism in Christianity that created the Church of England. During his athletic 30s, the king sustained several head injuries, a pair of which occurred in jousting matches. In the first, an opponent’s lance pierced the visor of his helmet. In the second, he was unconscious for a couple of hours after a horse fell on him. The researchers suggest that the impact of those blows was similar to the TBIs suffered by today’s football players. Before his injuries, the young king was described as a “vigorous, generous, and intelligent king,” according to the Yale neurologists’ study published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. After the head injuries, the researchers write that he became “cruel, petty, and tyrannical.” The king began displaying memory loss, explosive bursts of anger, impulsivity, and insomnia. Some historical research suggests he struggled with sexual dysfunction, which might have contributed to his marital troubles. A 2020 study on professional football players in JAMA Neurology found that the more concussion symptoms experienced the higher the chances of erectile dysfunction. Could hidden concussions have been behind some of the most monumental shifts in modern European history? Is a past concussion or are multiple head injuries impacting your life?

WHY DO SO MANY CONCUSSIONS GO UNDIAGNOSED?

It’s common for head injuries to go undetected. Based on the brain SPECT imaging work at Amen Clinics, about 40% of patients have experienced a significant brain injury. Surprisingly, many of these individuals don’t recall having sustained a head injury. In some cases, they may remember a bump or blow to the head, but they think it was too minor to mention. In other instances, they may have experienced repetitive sub-concussive blows to the head. These are impacts, such as repeatedly heading a soccer ball, that don’t cause immediate symptoms. However, the cumulative effects may cause long-term problems over time. When consequences linger for years, it’s called post-concussion syndrome. Unfortunately, many of these individuals never connect the dots from a minor injury that happened years earlier to the mental health issues they are currently facing.

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS

Head injuries can cause a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms. Some signs of a concussion include: These symptoms may develop soon after a mild traumatic brain injury, or they may not appear until months or years later. This is another reason why it’s so difficult for people to understand that their symptoms are related to a past concussion. Left untreated, mild concussions increase the risk for mental health problems, such as: These issues can ruin a person’s life as well as the lives of their loved ones.

COMMON CAUSES OF CONCUSSIONS

Common causes of head trauma include falls, motor vehicle accidents, military combat, violence, and sports injuries.

Falls

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Military Combat

Violence

Sports Injuries

All of these types of head injuries can cause damage to the brain. If you have experienced any of these and you’re struggling with memory loss or mental health issues that aren’t responding to standard treatment, it’s a good idea to investigate past head injuries as a potential cause.

DIAGNOSIS AND CONCUSSION TREATMENT

If you suspect a head injury, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis. Functional brain imaging, such as SPECT, can be beneficial in revealing areas of the brain that have been damaged. Knowing which parts of the brain aren’t functioning optimally can be helpful in creating a targeted treatment program. To heal from brain injuries, it’s important to take an integrative approach that includes lifestyle changes and more. Concussion rescue strategies that can be helpful include: With the right treatment plan, it’s possible to heal your brain, minimize symptoms, and start feeling like yourself again. Concussions and the mental health issues associated with them can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. It’s not surprising that a hard knock to the head can seriously harm the brain and cause memory problems. But what may be surprising is that repetitive mild head injuries over time can also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. A March 2023 study suggests that athletes who play soccer have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Neurodegenerative disease was significantly higher among male soccer players playing on a top-division team compared with the general population. Another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that former pro soccer players had a 3.5 times higher death rate from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population. This begs the question, is soccer bad for the brain? A March 2023 study suggests that athletes who play soccer have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
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WHAT IS A CONCUSSION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE BRAIN?

A concussion changes the way the brain functions and can result from bumps, jolts, shakes, or blows to the head or body that cause the brain to move back and forth within the skull. Brain cells can become damaged or stretched, and our fragile brains cannot support this type of trauma. Many of us are under the impression that concussions typically cause a person to blackout, similar to what we see in Hollywood action films when an actor is hit or falls down. In reality, however, more than 90% of concussions do not involve loss of consciousness. Yet, they can cause a host of problems.

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS

Concussions are rated mild, moderate, and severe. Be aware that mild TBIs and moderate concussions do not mean there are no long-term problems. Decades of scientific studies show that head injuries are a major cause of psychiatric issues, but few people know it. In addition, research shows that one or more mild or moderate head injuries can increase the likelihood of lasting memory impairment. Concussion symptoms include: People under 25 years old are two-and-a-half times more likely to have memory issues caused by concussions, according to research. After 55 years old, the risk jumps to four times higher risk of memory problems. And if a person has the APOE4 gene—a gene that is associated with an increased risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease—the chances are even higher. A cohort study showed that people with traumatic brain injury had an increased likelihood of dementia diagnosis even 30 years after the initial brain injury occurred.

HOW HEAD INJURIES CAUSE BRAIN TRAUMA

The wildly complex and fascinating human brain is seemingly well protected from harm by its hard skull. The problem is the skull is made up of facial, cranial, and hyoid bones along with ear ossicles, all of which are ridged. Any kind of trauma to the head can do damage to the soft, pliable brain that lives underneath the skull by pushing against the skull’s uneven surface. Whether it’s a hard shake, a strike from a fall, whiplash from a car accident, or “heading” in soccer, the fragile brain can easily sustain long-term damage. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common. A recent study noted that approximately 3 million Americans have some kind of mild traumatic brain injury every year, and 20% have symptoms that last more than a month. Brain trauma can present itself in a variety of ways including:

SOCCER HEADING AND BRAIN INJURIES

Heading a soccer ball is not the only sports activity that puts athletes at risk. Hockey, football, horseback riding, boxing, cycling, rugby, and other recreational activities that involve a fall risk or intense physical impact can potentially result in traumatic brain injury and subsequent neurodegenerative diseases. While most team sports that put athletes at risk of a head injury mandate the use of a helmet, soccer typically does not require helmets for kids, adolescents, or adults. “Heading” the ball is no longer allowed for children 10 and under in youth soccer, but teens can still use their heads to bump the ball. In all sports, a helmet can prevent more extreme traumatic brain injury, but it can’t prevent all damage.

COMMON CAUSES OF HEAD INJURIES

It is common to hear about sports as the main cause of concussions, but there are many other causes. For example, the causes of head injuries also include destructive acts like domestic violence, child abuse, gunshot wounds, and combat injuries sustained by people in the military. According to a 2019 study, 90% of victims with a history of domestic violence have traumatic brain injuries associated with abuse. Research published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma shows that children and adults are at much higher risk of neurological issues as a result of domestic violence. These types of trauma are almost always coupled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which also negatively affects the brain.

PROTECT YOUR HEAD TO PROTECT YOUR MEMORY

To reduce your risk for head injuries and to safeguard your memory, be smart and follow these tips: If you or your child suffers a head injury—even a mild one—be aware that it can negatively impact memory and take it as a wake-up call to get serious about your brain health. If any cognitive or psychological issues arise following a TBI, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional who understands that underlying damage to the brain can cause such problems. Undergoing brain SPECT imaging to see how the brain is functioning can be helpful in identifying if a past head injury is contributing to any issues. Memory problems, cognitive issues, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. So many things can damage our brains, such as excessive drug or alcohol use, health conditions like diabetes or heart disease, infections like Lyme disease or Covid, and of course head injuries. And these can all have a negative impact on our memory. If you’ve been bad to your brain, if you have health issues, or if you’ve experienced traumatic brain injuries—even mild ones—you may be wondering if there’s any hope for your brain and memory. In fact, some of the most common questions the psychiatrists at Amen Clinics hear are, “Am I stuck with the brain I have?” and “Is my memory gone for good?” That’s what Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries wanted to know when he visited Amen Clinics for a brain scan. Some of the most common questions the psychiatrists at Amen Clinics hear is, “Am I stuck with the brain I have?” and “Is my memory gone for good?”
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In an episode of Scan My Brain, Jeffries says, “If you asked me what I did yesterday, it would take a good 5 minutes to really think about what I did.” Now retired from the ring, the boxing entrepreneur, who is the co-owner of Box ’N’ Burn Gyms, was hoping a brain SPECT scan could help him find targeted ways to optimize his brain and enhance his memory so he can perform at his highest level. SPECT, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, offers a picture of how the brain is functioning and shows areas that could benefit from optimization.

COMMON WAYS THE BRAIN AND MEMORY GET DAMAGED

Head injuries

Getting in a car accident, falling off a bike, or getting punched in the head causes damage to the brain and can lead to memory problems. Most people don’t get hit in the head as many times as Jeffries, who had 106 career fights. Jeffries estimates he’s had 7 or 8 concussions and has been hit 40,000-50,000 times. You don’t have to experience that level of repetitive trauma to have memory loss. Decades of research show that traumatic brain injuries—even mild ones—are a major cause of memory problems, but few people make the connection between the injury and forgetfulness. In evaluating Jeffries’, Dr. Jay Faber, one of the psychiatrists at Amen Clinics, compares his brain SPECT scans to those “we might see in people who fall downstairs… play soccer and take a lot of hits to the front of the head… or who’ve been in a minor car accident.”

Excessive drug or alcohol use

Drugs and alcohol are toxins that damage the brain and increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. On SPECT scans, heavy drinkers and drug users often have a pattern called scalloping, which makes the brain appear to have a bumpy surface. This is a sign of overall low blood flow, which is associated with memory problems and is the #1 brain-imaging predictor of future Alzheimer’s disease. A study at Johns Hopkins found that people who drink every day have smaller brains, and when it comes to the brain, size matters! A study at Amen Clinics analyzing 62,454 brain scans found that marijuana accelerates brain aging, making it the equivalent of 2.8 years older. In this study, blood flow was decreased the most in the right hippocampus, an area commonly involved with Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss of all types.

Health conditions that affect blood flow

The brain uses 20% of the blood flow in your body, and any physical condition that decreases blood flow impacts the brain and memory. Heart disease and diabetes are two common health problems that impact blood flow, which harms the brain. Having a heart attack significantly increases the risk for future memory problems, and so does diabetes. Research has found a link between the abnormal insulin levels seen in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. The connection is so strong, some researchers are calling Alzheimer’s “Type 3” diabetes.

Infections

Infectious diseases are a major cause of memory problems and dementia, but they remain overlooked in the medical and psychiatric community, according to an editorial in JAMA by an international consensus group of 33 scientists. Brain SPECT imaging shows that Lyme disease is associated with overall low blood flow and scalloping. One of the most common complaints among people with Lyme disease is brain fog, including memory issues. Similarly, brain-imaging research on COVID, which is also associated with brain fog, reveals that the infection can cause inflammation in the brain.

HEALING THE BRAIN AND MEMORY

Healing after head injury

One of the most exciting things to come out of brain-imaging research is the fact that putting the brain in a healing environment offers the potential for improvement after a head injury. Even for Jeffries who has been punched in the face thousands of times, there is the ability to increase blood flow and optimize activity. Among several recommendations for Jeffries, Dr. Faber suggested hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which uses pure oxygen to accelerate the healing process. In light of the scalloping seen in Jeffries’ brain, Dr. Faber explains that with HBOT, “we increase the oxygen concentration and atmospheric pressure, and it pushes oxygen across the blood-brain barrier and helps support these areas to get them smooth again.” Like many people who see their brain scan, Jeffries thinks it’s a game changer. He says, “It gives me hope that I can improve that part of my brain, and I’ll be able to focus better and have a better memory and ultimately live a better life. Without having the scans and without talking to the doctor and finding this stuff out I would never know what was going on, but now I know.”

Healing damage from alcohol and drugs

To rehabilitate the brain and strengthen memory, it is best to eliminate alcohol and drugs. Alcohol is not a health food, as it is commonly portrayed. And marijuana is not innocuous. If necessary, seek a professional from someone trained in addiction treatment to stop drinking or using drugs.

Healing from health conditions

If you have heart disease or diabetes, it’s time to get serious about your health. To boost blood flow exercise regularly, limit caffeine, and engage in meditation or prayer. To manage diabetes, maintain a healthy weight and eat a low-glycemic diet.

Healing from infections

One of the first steps to overcoming chronic infections that affect the brain and memory is getting an accurate diagnosis. Work with an integrative (also called functional) medicine doctor to get to the root cause of your memory issues. Treating the underlying infection can be beneficial in boosting brainpower and improving memory. When you put your brain in a healing environment, you give it the foundation it needs to operate at a more optimal level. Taking stock of where you are in terms of brain health can help you take the next step to a healthier brain and better memory. Memory loss, addictions, and other brain and mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. By Daniel G. Amen, MD Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was brought into the public’s awareness largely through the movie Concussion, starring Will Smith, based on the work of neuropathologist Bennet Omalu. When he did the autopsy on Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Fame Center Mike Webster, he noticed something very different in his brain that had not been reported. There were excessive deposits of an abnormal protein in his brain, called tau. He subsequently noticed this pattern in other deceased NFL players who struggled with severe cognitive and emotional issues. 'I am interested in the living and doing everything I can to delay their journey to the autopsy table.' — Daniel G. Amen, MD
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INSIDE THE CTE BRAIN

Tau protein is essential as it provides the lattice-like structure of brain cells. However, when the brain is damaged from repeated concussions, common in football and soccer players, tau breaks down and pierces through cell membranes, causing an inflammatory response that damages the brain. I was blessed to be a consultant on the Concussion. Since CTE can only be diagnosed with certainty on autopsied slices of brain tissue, it can only be diagnosed after death. I am friends with Dr. Omalu, and we have published scientific papers together. I tell him, his patients are the dead, but I am interested in the living and doing everything I can to delay their journey to his autopsy table.

WHY HEAD TRAUMA ISN’T HOPELESS

Yet, the lore in medical circles is that CTE is permanent, progressive, and untreatable. I think that is nonsense and there is virtually no scientific evidence to support the lack of hope. Yet, because many people believe it, former football players and other professional athletes avoid getting help because they do not believe there’s anything they can do to stem the inevitable destruction of their brains. Some in the media have accused me of giving people with CTE false hope. Let me be clear, the scans we do at Amen Clinics do not diagnose CTE (you need a pathology slide for that). However, there is large body of peer-reviewed scientific research demonstrating that brain SPECT imaging can diagnose the current impact of past concussions, and whether or not with proper help, the brain can improve. The media tends to be purveyors of doom and despair, because that sells papers or gets more eyeballs for advertisers, but my 40-year career has shown that there is reason to be optimistic about the brain’s ability to heal. Here’s an example. In July 2007, College Football Hall of Fame running back from USC and former professional football player Anthony Davis (AD), came to see me at Amen Clinics because of problems with memory, periods of confusion, and irritability. A professor at USC told him about our work, and he thought we could help him. He was also concerned about the cognitive problems he saw in other retired football players and was hoping to find a way to help them too. At 54, Anthony’s brain looked like he was 85. It showed clear evidence of brain trauma to the prefrontal cortex and left temporal lobe. I put AD on a brain rehabilitation program described below, and within several months he told me that he felt better, was more focused, and had better energy and a sharper memory. Through my relationship with AD, in 2009 I partnered with the Los Angeles Chapter of the Retired NFL Players Association, which co-sponsored the largest brain imaging and rehabilitation study on active and retired NFL players. At the time, the NFL was still saying they did not know if playing football caused long-term brain damage, but they had never done any brain-imaging studies on players to prove it or not. My colleagues and I decided to tackle the issue. To date, we have scanned and treated more than 300 active and retired players using SPECT, a functional brain-imaging technique that measures blood flow and activity in the brain. The pre-treatment brain scans showed high levels of damage in almost all of the players. Damage was seen most commonly in the following regions: The treatment protocol for the players included overall brain health strategies, taking brain-supportive supplements—including a sophisticated multiple vitamin, high dose high-quality omega-3 fatty acids, and a brain-boosting supplement that works in 6 different ways—along with weight loss (for those who were overweight or obese). The measures taken at the end of the study revealed that 80% of the football players made significant improvements, especially in the areas of mood, motivation, sleep, attention, memory, reasoning, and information processing speed and accuracy. In addition, their brain scans revealed increased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes. Ten years later AD’s brain was significantly better.

AD’s Brain Before and After 10 Years

In brain SPECT images, a healthy scan shows full, even, symmetrical blood flow. The “holes” in AD’s pre-treatment scan represent areas of low blood flow. His follow-up brain scan shows healthier overall blood flow.

HOPE FOR A BETTER BRAIN AND A BETTER LIFE AFTER HEAD TRAUMA

To not do anything to ameliorate the chronic effects of concussions, as some medical professionals and some in the media suggest, is unconscionable. Let’s not wait until people are dead to uncover that something is wrong. Let’s have a bias for action to make sure it takes longer to get on Dr. Omalu’s autopsy table. Concussions and other head injuries can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Your brain is very soft—similar to the texture of soft butter—and it floats inside your skull, which is very hard and has many bony ridges. Can you picture what could happen to your brain when you get hit in the head? That delicate organ between your ears gets forced into those knife-sharp ridges which can cause bleeding, bruising, tearing, and scarring to your brain. Even wearing a helmet cannot stop the cascade of injury to the brain, although it does help to protect you from cracking your skull. Now imagine what happens in professional contact sports, such as football, rugby, and ice hockey—or even soccer where heading the ball is part of the game. Day after day, year after year, those athletes are sustaining hits to their heads. And even if they don’t lead to concussions, the repetitive trauma to the brain is likely setting the stage for changes in how their brain might function in the near or distant future.

What Exactly is CTE?

The term CTE—chronic traumatic encephalopathy—was largely brought into the public’s awareness through the movie Concussion (which stars Will Smith) based on the work of Bennet Omalu, MD. He is a neuropathologist who did the autopsies of several former NFL players and found excessive deposits of abnormal tau protein in their brains. Healthy tau is something we are supposed to have. Tau proteins are found inside brain cells and provide the structure, like train tracks, to help cells clear unwanted and toxic proteins. However, damage to the brain from injury—like a concussion—or a disease such as Alzheimer’s can cause the tau proteins to become abnormal and interfere with cell functioning. This phenomenon was actually first identified back in the 1920s, when the term “punch drunk syndrome” was used to describe some boxers, who eventually developed changes in personality, psychiatric symptoms, memory issues, and behavior problems, which are similar to the issues faced by some athletes who have had careers in other professional contact sports, such as those mentioned above. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease and the exact underlying mechanisms that lead to the abnormal tau proteins are still being researched. There is no blood test for it—it can only be diagnosed by autopsy—but just because a person has a history of head injury, it does not mean their brain can’t get better. In fact, at Amen Clinics, we know it is possible for injured brains to improve because we have seen it time and time again with our patients. At Amen Clinics, we know it is possible for injured brains to improve, because we have seen it time and time again with our patients.
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Even the Brains of NFL Players Can Get Better!

Several years ago, the research team at Amen Clinics, in collaboration with scientists from three major universities, conducted one of the first research studies on reversing brain damage in former NFL players. As part of the study, the players underwent cognitive testing and quantitative EEG studies, along with brain SPECT imaging to assess blood flow patterns in the brain. These measures were taken before treatment started and then again at the end of the study. The results from the pre-treatment brain scans revealed that more than 90% of the players had damage to multiple areas of their brains, especially in these: The treatment protocol for the men included weight loss (for those who needed it) and taking prescribed amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, a high-potency multivitamin, and other brain-supportive supplements. Dr. Amen and his colleagues watched over the progress of the players, and at the end of the study, found that 80% of them had improvements, not only on their cognitive testing but also on their brain scans which indicated that blood flow in areas of the brain got better!

You are Not Stuck with the Brain You Have

So it really is possible to change your brain and make it work better—even if you’ve done bad things to it—or it’s been decades since a head injury has occurred.  But in order to do this, it’s important to put your brain in a healing environment. In other words, you must start avoiding things that hurt your brain, including: And instead, engage in things that help your brain, like these: Simple lifestyle changes like these—which are very doable—can really add up to helping you feel better, think more clearly, have improved energy and focus, and make better decisions each day. When you take care of your brain, you take care of yourself, your goals, your relationships, and all the things that provide a sense of meaning in your life. You can do this! Concussions and mental health problems shouldn’t wait. It’s important to get assessed and treated as soon as possible. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Helmet-to-helmet tackles in football. Knockouts in boxing. Explosive blasts in combat. These are the types of incidents most people associate with concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). But you don’t have to be involved in a skull-crushing incident, and you don’t have to lose consciousness to cause damage to your brain. In fact, many people have what the medical field calls a “mild TBI” and in these cases, you may not even realize that you’ve suffered a brain injury. This is bad news because suffering a mild TBI can cause a host of lasting psychiatric, behavioral, and cognitive consequences. Suffering a mild TBI can cause a host of lasting psychiatric, behavioral, and cognitive consequences.
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Why Does Mild TBI Go Undetected So Often?

Statistics on head injuries don’t tell the whole story. According to the CDC, there are over 2.8 million TBIs in the U.S. each year. But that’s only counting the people who visit the emergency department, are hospitalized, or die from their injuries. There are millions of others who experience a blow, bash, or bonk to the head but never seek medical help because they don’t think their injury is serious enough. And there are countless more who endure repetitive bangs to the head, such as hitting a soccer ball with your head, who don’t think they require treatment. These people are never diagnosed with a concussion or mild TBI. Surprisingly, many people forget they’ve had a significant head injury in childhood or as an adult. That’s why at Amen Clinics, patients are asked multiple times if they have suffered any type of head trauma. Even if patients initially answer “no,” their physicians at Amen Clinics will keep digging, asking a series of probing questions: Have you ever fallen out of a tree, fallen off a fence, or dove into a shallow pool? Did you play contact sports? Have you ever been in a car accident? It’s shocking how many people think their head injuries were too insignificant to mention. For others, they simply do not remember the incident, as amnesia in head trauma is a common occurrence. For example, one Amen Clinics patient had insisted multiple times that he had not suffered a concussion, but after being asked a fifth time, he put his hand on his forehead and said, “Oh yeah! When I was 5 years old, I fell out of a second-story window.” He isn’t the only one. Many other people forget they went through windshields, fell out of moving vehicles, or were knocked unconscious when they fell off their bicycles. Have you suffered a head injury? Think back in your own history to see if you recall experiencing any of these common causes of mild TBIs: If you don’t remember any of these events, ask your parents if they recall such an incident. They may remember something you don’t.

What Happens to the Brain in a Mild TBI?

Suffering a concussion or mild TBI can impact the brain in many harmful ways. Here’s why. Many people think the brain is rubbery and fixed within the skull, but it isn’t. Your brain is soft, about the consistency of soft butter, tofu, or custard—somewhere between egg whites and gelatin. It floats in cerebrospinal fluid and is housed in a very hard skull that has many sharp bony ridges. As such, it is easily damaged. Whiplash, jarring motions (think Shaken Baby Syndrome), blast injuries, and blows to the head can cause the brain to slosh around, slamming into the hard ridges inside the skull. Here is what happens in the brain after physical trauma: On top of that, the pituitary gland (which regulates your hormones) sits in a vulnerable part of the skull, so it is often hurt in head injuries, causing major hormonal imbalances. In many cases, the brain heals over time after an injury. In other instances, lingering damage remains. On brain SPECT imaging, which measures blood flow and activity in the brain, one of the most common findings in people who have experienced head injuries is low blood flow in certain regions within the brain. Often, in people who have suffered a TBI, the brain region nearest the point of impact isn’t the only area where damage is seen. For example, if you get into a car accident and your forehead hits the steering wheel, it can injure the front part of the brain, but that’s not all. As your brain sloshes backward after impact, it can also cause damage on the opposite side. This is called a contrecoup injury. On SPECT, this is suspected when there is low blood flow on opposite sides of the brain. Low blood flow on SPECT has been seen not only with TBI, but also with depression, suicide, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADD/ADHD, hoarding, murder, substance abuse, seizure activity, and more. Low blood flow is the number one brain imaging predictor that a person will develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to research in Nature Communications.

TBI, Mental Health Problems, and Cognitive Dysfunction

What makes undiagnosed and untreated head injuries so troublesome is that they are associated with a wide range of psychiatric illnesses and cognitive problems. Research shows that head injuries increase the risk of depression, anxiety, panic disorders, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, ADD/ADHD, personality disorders, aggression, learning problems, and suicide. It also raises the odds of dementia. In the database of tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics, SPECT imaging reveals that 40% had a significant brain injury before they sought treatment for psychiatric, behavioral, or cognitive issues. Most of them had no idea that an underlying brain injury was contributing to their issues. In the database of tens of thousands of patients at Amen Clinics, SPECT imaging reveals that 40% had a significant brain injury before they sought treatment for psychiatric, behavioral, or cognitive issues.
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Anyone who is experiencing psychological or cognitive symptoms that aren’t getting better with standard treatment may want to investigate if a hidden mild TBI may be contributing to those issues. For these people, following a concussion rescue protocol to heal the brain can make a significant improvement in symptoms. Undetected, untreated, or misdiagnosed head injuries can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. Got into a fender bender and slammed your head on the steering wheel? Fell off a ladder, whacked your skull, and now you’re seeing stars? Knocked noggins while playing soccer and can’t feel woozy? Getting a concussion is serious business, and what you do in those first few minutes, hours, and days can either help heal your brain or hurt it and set you up for lasting cognitive, emotional or psychological issues.   Getting a concussion is serious business, and what you do in those first few minutes, hours, and days can either help heal your brain or hurt it and set you up for lasting cognitive, emotional, or psychological issues.
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THE PROBLEM WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES (TBI)

Your skull is very hard for a reason. It’s designed to protect your brain—the magnificent organ that is 100% in charge of you. Made up of 200 billion neurons (brain cells) and trillions of connecting fibers that are essential for everything you do, the brain is surprisingly soft and extremely delicate. Inside the skull, it is held in place by many sharp bony ridges; however, if your head hits something or there is a force against your head, your brain can get injured by slamming into the ridges and other parts of the skull. When that happens, it is likely to result in a concussion. Trauma to the brain can also occur without a direct blow to the head, such as with a whiplash injury. The sudden forward and backward or side-to-side motion can make the brain move around the inside of the skull. The force of those movements can cause shearing of the axons—the fibers that allow neurons to communicate with each other—which can then interfere with brain function. Although it is the most complex organ in the known universe, the brain was simply not designed to take any kind of physical punishment. Therefore, hits, bumps, or any kind of injury to the head should never be ignored. Whether caused by a fall, sports collision, motor vehicle accident or being hit by an object—and even if your skull is intact or you were wearing a helmet—concussions and the symptoms that result from them can be quite serious. Although it is the most complex organ in the known universe, the brain was simply not designed to take any kind of physical punishment. Therefore, hits, bumps, or any kind of injury to the head should never be ignored.
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WHAT TO DO AFTER A HEAD INJURY?

The first and most important thing to do after suffering head trauma is to seek medical care as soon as you can to be evaluated for a possible concussion or TBI. In addition to understanding the cause of your head injury, your doctor will assess for symptoms, such as: Head injuries can also cause bleeding in the brain which can be life-threatening and must be identified and treated immediately—often with surgery to release pressure on the brain. Although these cases are usually rare, it is imperative to get to an emergency room or call 911 as soon as possible if you have any of the following symptoms, along with the ones listed above: Fortunately, most head injuries don’t involve bleeding in the brain, but they still need to be taken seriously in order to avoid a deterioration of symptoms.

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE MILD HEAD INJURIES

What if you just bumped your head, didn’t pass out and didn’t experience the common concussion symptoms? All too often, mild head injuries are minimized or overlooked, but there can be long-term consequences for undiagnosed and untreated concussions. The residual damage to the brain can exacerbate or lead to an increased risk for mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, anger and aggression, cognitive problems and dementia—and even suicide. If your head is injured in any way, take it seriously and get the help you need right away, so you can start to recover in the healthiest and most expeditious way possible.

9 Strategies for Recovering from a Concussion

After being diagnosed with a concussion and following the advice and recommendations given to you by your doctor, the following 9 strategies* can also help you optimize your chance of a successful recovery:
  1. Have a TBI first aid kit on hand and support your brain with powerful antioxidants and nutritional supplements.
  2. Avoid strenuous activities such as working out, playing sports, or lifting heavy objects.
  3. Get 7-8 hours of sleep at night and relax as much as possible during the day to minimize stress on your body and brain.
  4. Limit time spent on the computer, TV, phone, or other screens because the light they emit—or eyestrain from looking at devices—can worsen concussion symptoms.
  5. Keep away from alcohol and recreational drugs. They are harmful to your brain and can extend your recovery time. You don’t need to add fuel to the fire!
  6. Stay well-hydrated with water and steer clear of caffeine.
  7. Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet with clean protein, lots of fresh greens, veggies, and berries, and healthy fats like avocados.
  1. Avoid any activity that increases your risk for another concussion! It could lead to a condition called second impact syndrome, which can cause permanent brain damage.
  2. Be patient. Rushing the recovery process can set you back. By taking it easy and giving yourself the time needed for proper healing, you can potentially resume your regular activities more quickly.
*PLEASE NOTE: These strategies are not a substitute for actual medical care. If you have not seen a doctor for your head injury, do that first. Concussions and head injuries can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here. When thinking of the term traumatic brain injury (TBI), often what comes to mind is someone who has had a catastrophic incident that has resulted in a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, or other very serious consequence of head trauma. People may imagine the cause of such injuries come from events like a bad auto accident, a combat injury, a snowboarder falling head-first into the lip of a half-pipe, or a bicycle racer losing control on a steep descent and crashing at high speed. While all these scenarios are possible, the cause of most TBIs is far less dramatic, but can still disrupt brain function and result in numerous symptoms and lasting cognitive problems or mental health issues.

EVERY TBI MATTERS!

According to the CDC, there are approximately 2.5 million emergency room visits each year for TBIs; however, we know that many head injuries are never reported. So often, people hit their head—”get their bell rung”—and don’t think much about it afterward, unless they have some symptoms. Even though someone doesn’t crack their skull or is wearing a helmet, it does not mean the brain didn’t get hurt. Here’s why: The brain is very soft, like the texture of soft butter. It sits inside a very hard skull which is designed to protect it. BUT when you hit your head, something hits you in the head, or your head gets jerked really hard (such as whiplash), the force can cause your brain to slam into the inside of the skull, which has boney ridges that help keep the brain in place. The force against your brain from any kind of impact can cause shearing of the axons (the connecting fibers that let cells communicate) and disrupt normal function in the brain. The brain can also get “bruised” (a contusion), it can bleed, or it can develop blood clots which are potentially fatal. As amazing and powerful as our brains are, they are also very delicate. The force against your brain from any kind of impact can cause shearing of the axons (the connecting fibers that let cells communicate) and other problems that disrupt normal function in the brain.
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THE 3 LEVELS OF TBI

Depending on the severity of a brain injury, a person may have a few symptoms—or many—and have them in varying degrees. Traumatic brain injuries are classified into 3 levels: mild, moderate, and severe based on:

1. Severe TBI

With severe traumatic brain injuries, there is significant damage to the brain and most people must be hospitalized for a period of time. Severe TBIs can result in damage to any number of important areas of function, such as motor coordination, speech, cognition, vision, and capacity for self-care. Many patients will undergo extensive rehabilitation to help regain—or at least improve—functions that were diminished or lost due to the injury. Some brain damage may be permanent.

2. Moderate TBI

With moderate TBI, symptoms can appear almost immediately or within a few days of the injury. As with severe TBI, moderate head trauma can cause impairment in important functions too, but to a lesser degree. These patients can also struggle with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vision or speech problems, sensitivity to light and sound, cognitive changes, and mood problems, among others. Some may fully recover from their symptoms, but some people may not.

3. Mild TBI

This type of brain injury is what we often refer to as a concussion and accounts for the vast majority of TBIs. There are many causes, including motor vehicle accidents; sports such as football, soccer, hockey—even cheerleading; recreational activities; falls; and assaults. With a concussion, a person may develop symptoms right away or after a few days or weeks. Common symptoms include: Although the symptoms of mild TBI are not as debilitating as those with moderate or severe brain injuries, they can still cause a wide range of impairments and interfere with psychosocial functioning. For instance, a person may suddenly struggle to do their job or schoolwork or become uncharacteristically irritable and fatigued. With rest and following the doctor’s orders, many people appear to recover well from a mild TBI, even though there may be some long-lasting or permanent changes inside the brain. Remember, the brain is very soft, and the skull is very hard!

LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF MILD TBI/CONCUSSIONS

The term “mild TBI” is deceiving, and it causes many people to overlook the potential long-term consequences of concussions and repeated concussions. A study published in JAMA Neurology in February 2021 examined the frequency of repeated head impacts of Division 1 college football players. The research found that players had an average of 415 impacts to their heads each season! Interestingly, most of these occurred during practice and preseason training. This is very concerning because of the growing research about the long-term consequences of repetitive trauma to the brain. Left untreated, even mild TBI/concussions can increase the risk of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, aggression and behavior problems, dementia, and even suicide. Left untreated, even mild TBI/concussions can increase the risk of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, aggression and behavior problems, dementia and even suicide.
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YOUR BRAIN CAN GET BETTER AFTER A TBI

Even if your TBI was a while ago, there are things you can do to make it better. Choosing healthy lifestyle changes to take care of your brain now can make all the difference in the world.

Here are 5 easy tips to help you get started:

  1. Eat a brain-healthy diet with lots of greens and fresh produce, high-quality protein, and low-glycemic carbs.
  2. Exercise regularly to help boost blood flow to your brain.
  3. Manage your stress with meditation/prayer or yoga.
  4. Exercise your brain by learning new things and doing online brain games.
  5. Help your brain with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a non-invasive treatment that uses pure oxygen to speed the healing process.
Taking good care of your brain is the most important thing you can do to live a better life after a TBI/concussion. TBIs and concussions can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, brain scans reveal that 40% of patients have suffered a mild TBI—although many of them don’t remember it—that contributes to their cognitive or psychiatric symptoms. We have developed a proven, science-backed, integrative Concussion Rescue Program to help heal your brain and overcome your symptoms. During these uncertain times, your cognitive and mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. And as an essential medical practice, our clinics are open to serve you. For more information about our Concussion Rescue Program, speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.