Exploring The Effects of rmTBI's Past Their Cognitive Barriers

In the world of sport, repetitive mild brain injuries are the most concerning element of the game today. Major organizations like the NFL have placed extreme emphasis on the health & safety of their players using multiple tactics and rule changes. Including the Guardian Cap that the league rolled out for players. The use of equipment like this has resulted in a 10% decrease in impact if one player is wearing it and a 20% decrease in impact if two players are wearing it. Rule changes have also been effective in addressing the rmTBI injuries including calls like “targeting” that draws a penalty and potentially a fine if a player leads with the “crown” of his helmet to tackle another player. Injuries of this nature have also been addressed from a collegiate and high school level as well. For sports like wrestling, football, and hockey. rmTBI is without a doubt a major health & safety concern for athletes around the world because of the effects that have been linked to them and because of the time in which athletes play sports. For high school and collegiate athletes their brains are still in a very active developmental period that lasts up until 25 years old. While athletic engagement is often associated with rmTBI related injuries, “The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3 million people experience TBI in the U.S. annually, accounting for a total annual cost of $60–80 billion”. (Foecking, 1) Which infers that it is definitely not just athletes that suffer from TBI’s. In fact, “The World Health Organization predicts that TBI will surpass many diseases as the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide and estimates the annual global incidence at 70 million”. (Foecking, 1) But while most think that rmTBI’s only have the potential to hinder our cognitive function they also can lead to hormonal changes as well.

Vestibular impairments, are second to cognitive impairments in terms of symptoms of rmTBI’s. However, unfortunately due to a lack of research and limited treatment vestibular impairments aren’t as solution-based as cognitive impairments. Out of the 16% of men and 8% of women who suffer from TBI’s, 80% of those people have prolonged vestibular impairments whose “symptoms manifest as vertigo, dizziness, lightheadedness, and imbalance.” (Foecking, 2) Hypogonadism is also prevalent in both men and women after developing a TBI. Low testosterone and estrogen levels were proven to be major symptoms of both mild TBI’s and rmTBI’s. It has even been proven that “a single mild TBI has been shown to cause chronic vestibular impairment and hypogonadism” (Foecking, 2)

In Dr. Foecking talk, she detailed the study that is currently being run in her lab where she works with “male Long-Evans hooded rats” to test the effects of rmTBI injuries on vestibular function and also test testosterone treatment. The animals then underwent a series of 5 TBI’s 48 hours apart after being sedated. Following the TBI’s they proceeded to undergo behavioral tests that would measure their vestibular battery. These tests included, Air Righting Reflex Test, Tail Hanging Reflex Test, Forelimb Reach Test, Swimming Test, and Lateral Raise Test. All tests the animals went through were graded with 0 being the best score, 1 being partial vestibular dysfunction, and 2 being maximum vestibular impairment. It was determined that there was a “significant vestibular deficiency at all timepoints” with the deficiency score being at 1.5 or less consistently. Another significant finding is the role of testosterone treatment and its restoration of vestibular function. 

While there are a ton of questions that still could be answered in terms of testing methods, process with the animals, and what this means for women this research examined something that had never been touched on before and that is inducing testosterone back into the animal post rmTBI. Which ultimately in the context of this study proved to be successful. But I think it is still important to increase overall awareness about the severity of rmTBI’s and how much of a risk they pose to millions of people just in the United States. With advancements in research like Dr. Foecking conducted,  I think the path to awareness is in the forefront

References: 

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html

Feng, Yin, et al. “Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats Impairs Cognition, Enhances Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Activity, and Reduces Pre-Synaptic Mitochondrial Function.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 15 July 2021, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2021.689334/full.