Myth While concussions are considered to be less serious in nature on the scale of traumatic brain injuries, concussions are considered to be a mild form of brain injury and can cause significant cognitive problems, in some cases taking weeks or months before symptoms completely resolve.
Feelings of anxiety and depression are common symptoms after sustaining a brain injury.
Fact While the treatment following a brain injury often focuses on alleviating cognitive and physical symptoms, feelings of anxiety and depression are common symptoms after sustaining a brain injury.
Postsecondary students are in the highest risk group for sustaining a brain injury.
Fact The highest incidence of brain injuries occurs between the ages of 15 – 24 and estimates of postsecondary students who will sustain a brain injury range from 20 – 34%. Student athletes who play contact sports, such as football, soccer, ice hockey, and rugby are a particularly vulnerable group.
There is no relationship between number of concussions a person has and had and symptom severity.
Myth Research indicates that individuals who have sustained two or more concussions experience more symptoms of greater intensity, may take longer to recover, experience deficits in memory and processing speed, and may be at greater risk for depression compared to those who have sustained only one concussion. Preliminary imaging research suggests that there are changes in brain white matter following repetitive head impacts.
Myth or Fact