Concussions, it would seem, are not gender neutral.
A study released from the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that a patient’s recovery from a concussion varies greatly between men and women, with women recovering slower. A concussion, caused by a blow to the head through sports, car accidents, etc., affects various cognitive functions from memory to speech.
The findings underscore that men and women shouldn’t be administered to in the same way when it comes to treating a concussion. The study tested memory, attention, processing speed and reaction time in men and women after a concussion. The results were that females had more symptoms, slower reaction time and decreased verbal memory and processing speed than men.
The study also looked at people with a prior history of head trauma and found that they too performed poorly on the follow-up tests.
Researchers aren’t sure exactly what accounts for the difference in recovery processes between men and women, but they have ruled out size difference being a determining factor. When it comes to traumatic brain injury, every little bit counts. Knowing how different brains react to an injury will help doctors determine more effective methods for influencing recovery.
Original story here. (American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (2008, July 10). Men And Women With History Of Concussion Mend Differently, Study Finds.)