Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Tuesday 3 January 2017

Concussions on the brain: Pushing for more research on women

DAVE COLLINS the largest-ever study of fe-
Associated Press male concussions. The re-
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — sults may lead to sports rule
Katherine Snedaker says changes and international
she has had 20 concus- guidelines on prevention
sions, the first three de- and treatment, he said.
cades ago from a car ac- A major impetus to Sne-
cident when she was 16. daker’s activism has been
But it wasn’t until her son hearing stories in support
suffered a series of con- groups and in surveys from
cussions in the sixth grade, women and girls suffering
around 2008, that she felt from concussions. Many
compelled to learn all she shared similar stories of not
could about head injuries healing as fast as people
to help him recover. thought they should, doc-
During her journey of learn- tors minimizing their condi-
ing, she has become a na- tions and feeling isolated
tionally known advocate while recovering at home,
for better research, medi- she said.
cal care, and support for “These girls had been cy-
girls and women with brain cled through the medical
injuries, including concus- community and kind of spit
sions. out,” Snedaker said. “What
She founded her nonprof- totally got me were these
it advocacy group PINK In this Dec. 6, 2016, photo, Katherine Snedaker poses in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, women who were isolated
Concussions in 2013 in re- Conn. Snedaker, of Norwalk, Conn., founded PINK Concussions, a nonprofit group that advocates and alone.”
sponse to what she dis- for improvements to research and medical care for females with brain injuries including concus- Snedaker said she suffered
covered was a lack of in- sions. her concussions in a series
formation and research on Associated Press of accidents, but has been
female concussions. She lucky not to develop per-
formed the group during on men, especially dozens need for more research, Carolina and former direc- manent symptoms. Other
a yearlong medical leave of former football players better medical care, and tor of the NCAA’s injury sur- sources of her concussions
to treat breast cancer and who died from a degen- more community sup- veillance program. include a car accident in
while rebuilding her home, erative brain disease that port for girls and women “There are all these dif- college, being hit by a la-
damaged by Superstorm has been linked to concus- with concussions and oth- ferent theories out there crosse ball, hitting her head
Sandy. sions. er brain injuries suffered about why concussions on a door frame and slam-
Some studies show females “There’s a lot we don’t through sports, military ser- are higher in women than ming her head against a
suffer more concussions know,” said Snedaker, 49, vice, domestic violence in men, wall while flopping onto a
than males when play- a licensed clinical social and accidents. She has but we really don’t know bed, she said.
ing similar sports. Doctors worker who gave up her organized several confer- why,” he said. “These are all total screw-
agree more research is regular job to advocate ences that have brought “We need more data col- up accidents,” she said.
needed on any gender full-time at her own ex- together medical experts lection. We need more sur- Her son’s concussions,
differences and whether pense. “What I wanted to and military leaders she veillance at all levels. We suffered in soccer, skate-
women experience more do was educate the pub- has met, done dozens need to get more informa- boarding and lacrosse,
severe symptoms or take lic.” of media interviews, and tion out there.” spurred her to research
longer to recover. Snedaker has sought to launched a website — Pink Snedaker, Kerr and other head injuries, contact
Most research has focused keep a light shining on the Concussions — to share in- advocates and doctors experts and attend
formation. are optimistic about a $30 medical conferences.
In March, Pink Concussions million, three-year study She went on to start sup-
will hold its second annual being done by the NCAA port groups and educa-
international summit on and the Department of tional websites, as well as
female concussions and Defense. The study is billed co-found and work in con-
traumatic brain injuries; it as the largest ever of con- cussion clinics. It was in the
will be hosted by the Na- cussion in sports, involving clinics where she began to
tional Institutes of Health. more than 25,000 student hear the girls’ stories.
“Katherine has done a lot athletes. Preliminary results She has pledged to do-
of great work as an activ- are expected to be re- nate her brain to medical
ist,” said Dr. Zachary Kerr, leased in late January. researchers when she dies.
an assistant professor in Dr. Brian Hainline, chief “It’s adjusting attitudes,”
exercise and sport science medical officer of the she said. “It’s educating
at the University of North NCAA, said it also will be women.”q