Article preview from Start-Up - November 2013
Medical device start-ups are surging into new territory in mild traumatic brain injury or concussion detection, which has heretofore lacked objective diagnostics and monitoring tools. Profiles of Cerora, MC10, Oculogica, and Sway Medical.
Heightened Concussion Awareness Calls For New Detection Tools
Article preview from Start-Up - November 2013
Medical device start-ups are surging into new territory in mild traumatic brain injury or concussion detection, which has heretofore lacked objective diagnostics and monitoring tools.
It’s not official, but October 2013 could well be called “Concussion Awareness Month.” That month, public television aired a documentary based on the book, League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and theBattle for Truth by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru. The book and documentary chronicled the life of Pittsburgh Steeler champion Mike Webster, who, before his death at the age of 50, suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and a host of debilitating cognitive and psychological problems brought on by his football-related head injuries, as well as other members of the NLF who suffered the consequences of impaired brains following their retirement from football.
October also saw the publication of the report, “Sports-Related Concussions in Youth: Improving the Science, Changing the Culture,” which was published by the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council. The report highlighted the need for society to be more vigilant about sports-related injuries, especially in young athletes. Its researchers found a “culture of resistance” or a kind of “toughing it out” attitude that prevents athletes from both reporting head injuries and complying with treatment.
The report looked into literature about the effects of multiple concussions and found impairments in memory and processing speed. Its survey of 2,500 retired professional football players found a high percentage of clinical depression. The report also called for more and better data with regard to accurate reporting of the number of concussions, research into brain changes following concussions in youth, studies to assess the long-term effects of concussions, and the need to develop standards of treatment.
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