- New research suggests recurring, mild head injuries can stack up to serious neurological issues.
- Three concussions seems to be a turning point for brain issues, and further injury worsens symptoms.
Head injuries are a major risk factor for brain problems later in life, and even minor damage may stack up over time, new research suggests.
Just one moderate-to-severe concussion, or multiple milder concussions, can causing lasting issues with memory and attention later in life, and each subsequent injury may worsen symptoms, according to UK researchers.
The research team from the University of Oxford, University of Exeter, and Kings College London looked at data from more than 15,000 UK residents between age 50 and 90, comparing their lifetime history of head injuries with changes in their cognitive functioning over time.
Their findings, published January 27 in the Journal of Neurotrauma, show that experiencing three mild concussions is linked to worse attention span and problem-solving ability. Experiencing four or more concussions was linked to memory problems and slower processing speed. People who experienced a single moderate or severe concussion also had issues with attention span, problem solving, and processing information.
The study, the largest of its kind, also indicates that the lasting effects of brain injury can worsen over time with repeated head injuries, according to Dr. Vanessa Raymont, senior author of the study and senior clinical researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Oxford.
"We know that head injuries are a major risk factor for dementia, and this large-scale study gives the greatest detail to date on a stark finding - the more times you injure your brain in life, the worse your brain function could be as you age," Raymont said in a press release.
She added that the findings suggest the importance of proactive safety measures for people at high risk of head injuries through work or sports, and said that organizations should prioritize protecting their athletes and employees from repeated impacts.
Pro athletes have raised concerns about concussions in the NFL and other contact sport organizations
The latest concussion research adds to a growing awareness around the risks of contact sports like American football, which has a well-documented history of serious injuries and lasting damage to athletes.
Most recently, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered two head injuries in four days. The incident prompted changes to the NFL's safety protocols.
Former NFL players have reported ongoing issues with brain health potentially related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, progressively worsening cognitive decline after repeated head injuries, Insider previously reported.
Other contact sport organization such as the UFC have also outlined concussion safety measures in recent years, reflecting concerns about cumulative damage to athletes' brains.