MedLink Neurology Podcast is delighted to feature selected episodes from BrainWaves, courtesy of James E Siegler MD, its originator and host. BrainWaves is an academic audio podcast whose mission is to educate medical providers through clinical cases and topical reviews in neurology, medicine, and the humanities, and episodes originally aired from 2016 to 2021.

Originally released: January 1, 2021

Even before the release of the 2015 film, Concussion, there has been a rising concern about mild traumatic brain injury in athletes in recent years. In this week's episode of BrainWaves, we discuss the history of mild traumatic brain injury and the clinicopathologic concept of chronic traumatic encephalopathy as it pertains to football players. BrainWaves podcasts and online content are intended for medical education only and should not be used to guide medical decision-making in routine clinical practice.

REFERENCES

Giza CC, Kutcher JS, Ashwal S, et al. Summary of evidence-based guideline update: evaluation and management of concussion in sports: report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 2013;80(24):2250-7. PMID 23508730

Guskiewicz KM, Marshall SW, Bailes J, et al. Association between recurrent concussion and late-life cognitive impairment in retired professional football players. Neurosurgery 2005;57(4):719-26; discussion 719-26. PMID 16239884

Montenigro PH, Corp DT, Stein TD, Cantu RC, Stern RA. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: historical origins and current perspective. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2015;11:309-30. PMID 25581233

Stamm JM, Bourlas AP, Baugh CM, et al. Age of first exposure to football and later-life cognitive impairment in former NFL players. Neurology 2015;84(11):1114-20. PMID 25632088

We believe that the principles expressed or implied in the podcast remain valid, but certain details may be superseded by evolving knowledge since the episode’s original release date.