Head injuries are dangerous because they can affect the brain in a multitude of ways. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to damage to the brain caused by an external physical force such as a collision, being struck by a falling object, or a fall. The brain is made up of extremely delicate soft tissue which floats in fluid within the skull. When there is sudden speeding up or slowing down, such as in a collision or fall, the brain can move around violently inside the rigid skull, resulting in injury.

While immediate and diagnosable brain injuries like TBI are most commonly associated with sporting accidents, there is another condition that can be caused by regular exposure to minor head traumas that is much less understood. Known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) or ‘Boxers Brain’, this is a degenerative brain disease that is found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma, where symptoms can appear many years after the traumas have taken place. In CTE, a protein called Tau forms clumps that slowly spread throughout the brain, killing brain cells and causing symptoms that can affect a patient’s mood and behaviour. Some common changes observed include impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and paranoia. As the disease progresses, some patients may experience problems with thinking and memory, including memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, and eventually progressive dementia.