Preface Extract:

Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurodegenerative Disease: A Marriage Made in Sport?

Preface (Openly Available) by Rudy J. Castellani

The watershed moment in understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurred with Holbourne’s theory that rotational head movement and shear strains were limiting factors in producing parenchymal brain damage. He based this on physical properties of the brain, including its extreme incompressibility and lack of rigidity. Holbourne’s theory was substantiated and elaborated upon in primate experiments, in which coronal plane rotation of sufficient magnitude and pulse duration rendered subjects vulnerable to diffuse axonal injury, while sagittal plane rotation and relatively short pulse duration predisposed to bridging vein rupture and subdural hematoma. Related concepts have been invoked to explain the contrecoup contusion phenomenon. Although subsequent modifications were inevitable, the initial theory coupled with experimental observations provided the biomechanical underpinnings for cardinal traumatic brain lesions – namely, subdural hematoma, contusion, and diffuse axonal injury. These same concepts have since been exploited to improve neuroprotection in motor vehicle accidents, military service, and sport, and are still relevant today. Myriad biochemical cascades in TBI have been elaborated, along with advances in diagnosis and acute management of a multiplicity of lesions. It is perhaps noteworthy that the foundational knowledge was acquired in the absence of computer technology, modern molecular biology, and immunohistochemical analysis of autopsied brain tissue. Read more

Highlighted Content:

Assessing the Limitations and Biases in the Current Understanding of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
N. Schwab and L.N. Hazrati

The Need to Separate Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Neuropathology from Clinical Features
G.L. Iverson, C.D. Keene, G. Perry, and R.J. Castellani

Tau Biology, Tauopathy, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Diagnostic Challenges
R.J. Castellani and G. Perry

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Neurodegeneration in Contact Sports and American Football
S.L. Zuckerman, B.L. Brett, A. Jeckell, A.M. Yengo-Kahn, and G.S. Solomon

What is the Relationship of Traumatic Brain Injury to Dementia?
M.F. Mendez

Brain Injury in the Context of Tauopathies
J.F. Abisambra and S. Scheff

Neuropathology in Consecutive Forensic Consultation Cases with a History of Remote Traumatic Brain Injury
R.J. Castellani, M. Smith, K. Bailey, G. Perry, and J.L. deJong

Brain Injury and Later-Life Cognitive Impairment and Neuropathology: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study
E.J. Chosy, N. Gross, M. Meyer, C.Y. Liu, S.D. Edland, L.J. Launer, and L.R. White

Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Long-Term Brain Changes, Accumulation of Pathological Markers, and Developing Dementia: A Review
C. LoBue, C. Munro, J. Schaffert, N. Didehbani, J. Hart, Jr., H. Batjer, and C.M. Cullum

Traumatic Brain Injury and Age of Onset of Dementia with Lewy Bodies
T.P. Nguyen, J. Schaffert, C. LoBue, K.B. Womack, J. Hart, and C.M. Cullum

Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injury in Early Versus Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
M.F. Mendez, P. Paholpak, A. Lin, J.Y. Zhang, and E. Teng

Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicidal Behavior: A Review
A. Wadhawan, J.W. Stiller, E. Potocki, O. Okusaga, A. Dagdag, C.A. Lowry, M.E. Benros, and T.T. Postolache

White Matter and Cognition in Traumatic Brain Injury
C.M. Filley and J.P. Kelly

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