The Link Between Depression and Sports Concussions

Did you know that having depression can make it harder for athletes to recover from a concussion? And vice versa, a recent study reveals. Researchers found that college athletes with both conditions had much worse symptoms than those with just one. They also discovered that the electrical signals in the brain were more disrupted in people with both conditions. Doctoral candidate Owen Griffith and professor Semyon Slobounov from Penn State led the study. They looked at 35 college athletes, checking for concussion and depression symptoms, and did EEG scans to see the brain's electrical activity.The results showed that athletes with both conditions had nearly double the depression symptoms and worse concussion recovery. Plus, the brain scans showed less coherent brain wave patterns in these athletes. This was the first time anyone used EEG to study this link, according to Griffith. Athletes with both conditions need special care, as their recovery could take longer. This study shows that recovering from concussions isn't one-size-fits-all. People with mental health issues might require more support.