TedEd: What happens when you have a concussion?

A TedEd by Clifford Robbins

Each year in the U.S., millions of athletes get concussions. A concussion occurs when the soft, fatty tissue of the brain receives a sudden jolt and bumps against the side of the hard skull. The brain is made up of tens of billions of neurons, which transfer electrical signals to communicate throughout the body via axons. Because these axons are long and thin, they are prone to breaking when collisions occur. This also releases toxins that kill other neurons nearby, causing more brain damage. This often results in problems with memory, mood, vision, sleep, and anxiety. Most of the time, sleep, rest, and a gradual return to activity heals most side effects of concussions. Sometimes, if people return to sports too quickly or don't rest, they can develop post-concussion syndrome, which has health implications years down the line. Researchers also found that frequent, small impacts can cause the brain to loose integrity in its axon bundles, leading to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can cause concussion-like symptoms along with dementia. This occurs due to a protein called tau, which is usually on microtubules supporting the axons. However, when impacted, they fall off and form clumps, impeding axon efficiency. Up 80% of concussions go undetected or unreported, and it's important to remember that our brains aren't invincible.