LAS VEGAS, Nevada. So, you’ve been in a car accident. You hit your head, but didn’t pass out, don’t feel dizzy, and don’t think you’ve suffered any memory loss. So, you’re fine, right? Maybe not. According to NPR, researchers for the journal Radiology report that even one concussion can have lasting changes on the brain. When the brain scans of healthy patients were compared to the brain scans of those who had suffered a concussion, the brains of those who had suffered a concussion showed damage in areas of the brain linked to mood and depression. In fact, some scans showed signs of atrophy or brain shrinkage. While researchers indicate that most patients who suffer mild traumatic brain injury go on to experience a full recovery, as many as 10 to 20 percent of patients might go on to develop problems with mood, depression, and anxiety. Others might experience headaches, balance problems, or difficulty concentrating. Sometimes these symptoms aren’t immediate perceptible.
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