Examining the Long-term Effects of Concussion in Sport

Examining the Long-term Effects of Concussion in Sport

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May 10 2019

Thought LeadersLauren PullingProgram ManagerThe Drake Foundation

An interview with Lauren Pulling from The Drake Foundation, discussing the short and long-term effects of concussions obtained during contact sports such as football and rugby, and the research that is currently being undertaken to understand this further.

What do we currently know about the long-term effects of concussions obtained through sport?

In short, the answer is ‘very little’. While we may recognize the short-term symptoms of a concussion, not much is known about the long-term impact of both concussions and sub-concussive head impacts (for example, when heading a football).

Herbert Kratky | Shutterstock

Recent years have seen this topic brought into the public eye, with growing evidence pointing toward a potential increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in athletes exposed to repeated head impacts. You might have seen news stories both in British sports and some high-profile cases in the USA, particularly in American football – one such case was dramatized in the Will Smith film Concussion.