New Tech Helps Determine Concussion Severity

The Electrode Mesh Cap in action (Photo Credit: Medical News Today)Concussions related to playing football have recently drawn great attention from the public. Recently, the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior (CB3) of University of Nebraska has developed a new device called the electrode mesh cap. The leading researcher, Dennis Molfese, remarks that, “Our goal is to do nothing less than to make this a cutting-edge, world-renowned, world-unique brain-imaging center that eventually will become a model for brain-imaging centers around the world.” The electrode mesh cap is a type of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine that follows a brain’s blood flow. When a player is injured, he will put on the electrode mesh cap enabling medical staff to evaluate his brain waves and determine whether he can continue playing on the field. According to Molfese, the device could be ready to use in hospitals in 1 to 2 years that will help to screen patients of potential brain injuries. 

To learn more, check out Mary Ellis's article here on Medical News Today 

Recent Canadian Study Helps Youngsters to Prevent Brain Injury

Dr. Michael Cusimano, photo courtesy of St. Michaels HospitalAccording to a new study by St. Michael's Hospital in Canada, hockey took up 44.3 percent of all injuries and almost 70 percent of them occurred in children over 10 because of player-to-player contact or being hit into the boards. The study collected data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program to look at almost 13,000 children and youth aged 5-19 who had a sports-related brain injury between 1990 and 2009. The results also found that the youngest age group was at the highest risk for getting seriously injured in baseball. Most of the 15.3 percent of injuries occurred in children under the age of 14, with 45 percent of them in children under nine. "These results give us a very specific prevention message for kids under nine who play baseball: make helmets and supervision mandatory," said Dr. Cusimano, a neurosurgeon and leader of the study. He further suggests that "having educational programs, proper equipment, rules and other incentives that support a culture of safety in sports should be a mandate of parents, coaches, players, sports organizations, schools, sports sponsors, and other groups like governments."

More information is at: Science Daily, "New Study Aims to Prevent Sports-Related Brain Injury in Youngsters"

"Teen speaks out about texting crash"

When Jeffrey Pula was only 17 years old he was seriously injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver sending a text. After spending nine grueling months in a coma, Jeffrey emerged to discover that his injuries would leave him blind for the rest of his life.

Now, 3 years after the accident, Jeffrey is telling his story to discourage others from texting while driving. The dangers are real and, by raising awareness, hopefully he can help prevent similar tragedies from happening.

For his story as reported by Elysia Rodriguez on 22 New click here or check out the video below...

Teen speaks out about texting crash