A new study has linked head injuries experienced while young to an increased risk for depression and depression decades later.
UPI reports those who had repetitive head impacts scored 1.24 points higher on a 15-point depression symptom scale than those without a history.
Specifically, participants without any history of either traumatic brain injury or repetitive head impacts had the fewest symptoms of depression.
The findings underscore that repetitive hits to the head, such as those from contact sport participation or physical abuse, might be associated with later-life symptoms of depression. Michael Alosco, Study Co-Author Boston University School of Medicine.
Those with both a history of repetitive head impacts and TBI with loss of consciousness did worse on almost all cognitive tests.
Boston University School of Medicine researchers said the findings were independent of age, sex, racial identity, and education level.
