A little about Persisting Symptoms After Concussion (PSAC)

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that affects brain function. Effects are often short term and can include headaches and trouble with concentration, memory, balance, mood and sleep.

Concussions usually are caused by an impact to the head or body that is associated with a change in brain function. Not everyone who experiences a blow to the body or head has a concussion.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, February 17). Concussion - Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic; Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594

Up to 30% of individuals who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) develop persisting symptoms after concussion (PSAC). ...in this systematic review and meta-analysis, acute cognitive symptoms, medical history of anxiety and/or depression or of sleep disorders, and the presence of clinical signs (loss of consciousness and amnesia) were the factors associated with greatest odds of PSAC in adults across all time points.

McIntosh, S. J., Vergeer, M. H., Galarneau, J. M., Eliason, P. H., & Debert, C. T. (2025). Factors Associated With Persisting Symptoms After Concussion in Adults With Mild TBI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA network open, 8(6), e2516619. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.16619

Prevention of head injury is key!