Long Term Effects of Concussions McKay Fall 2017

Objectives SWBAT identify the long term effects of a concussion and how they can affect an athlete’s future. SWBAT list and explain the diseases that can result after multiple head injuries after a career.

Post Concussive Syndrome Post Concussive Syndrome (PCS) are symptoms of a concussion that can last for weeks, months, or even a year after the initial concussion. Symptoms include all of those that are sustained after an initial concussion, some common signs or symptoms are: Irritability Headache Difficulty concentrating/focus Emotional or Personality change Depression Anxiety

How to treat PCS? PCS can be treated with medicine and behavioral therapy. It is commonly misdiagnosed. Most cases will resolve overtime.

ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” ALS is the most common form of motor neuron disease. Sporadic forms account for about 90-95 percent of ALS cases. Approximately 5-10 percent acquire this disease from genetics. Slight male predominance for sporadic ALS.

What is ALS? Essentially ALS is a motor neuron disease in which messages can no longer be transmitted between the brain and the body. Voluntary muscular control will be impacted. Gradually muscles will become weaker and will eventually loose their function. Quality of life is drastically altered.

ALS ALS commonly affects those who are 50 year plus, but one can still acquire this disease prior to the age of 50. People with ALS may have fully functioning brain activity, but their body continues to deteriorate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlZ2FZdQjMg

Parkinson’s Disease A progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, mainly affecting middle- aged and elderly people. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s are: Tremor, which means shaking or trembling. Tremor may affect your hands, arms, or legs. Stiff muscles. Slow movement. Problems with balance or walking.

What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? CTE is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated trauma to the head and characterized by the build up of a toxic protein called Tau and TDP-43. The abnormal proteins (Tau and TDP-43) impairs normal functioning and eventually kills brain cells. Those suffering from CTE display symptoms such as: * Memory Impairment * Depression * Emotional Instability * Problems with impulse control * Erratic Behavior * Progresses to full grown dementia

What does CTE do? CTE results in a progressive decline of memory and cognition, as well as: Depression suicidal behavior poor impulse control Aggressiveness Parkinsonism Dementia In some individuals, it is associated with motor neuron disease, referred to as chronic traumatic encephalomyelopathy, which appears clinically similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

What does it look like? The brown spotting on the brain is a result of the Tau and TDP-43 on the brain.

What does this mean? CTE is still a rather new term in the medical field and there is still a lot of research that is being conducted in the field. Symptoms may begin years or decades after brain trauma exposure. Early symptoms include a decline of memory and brain functioning, depression, suicidal thoughts and/or behavior, and poor impulse control. Researchers are still trying to collect new information, but realize that one of the only ways to research this topic is through brain donation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbxJgN2Udjg

Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurologic disease of the brain leading to the irreversible loss of neurons and the loss of intellectual abilities, including memory and reasoning, which become severe enough to impede social or occupational functioning. Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases, most commonly with AD. Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability. severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia develops when the parts of the brain that are involved with learning, memory, decision-making, and language are affected by one or more of a variety of infections or diseases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkes4Hb0HbI Jim McMahon clip

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of- denial/