WASHINGTON, D.C.: New research from the University of British Columbia has shown concussion-caused brain damage that had previously been invisible.
These new images suggest myelin, a crucial part of the nervous systems, is damaged in concussed athletes, and that damage can last longer than the clinical symptoms suggest.
Myelin acts as a sort of “insulator” around nerve fibres in the brain, says researcher Alex Rauscher, and when it is damaged, it slows down transmission of nerve signals and leads to impaired brain functioning.
Rauscher’s study followed players from a male hockey team and a female team, and performed MRI scans on the 11 players who suffered concussions.
Rauscher says his work is only a single study, but could point to a recommendation for athletes to take more time off after a concussion…