Brain Injury Insider Episode 150: The Hidden Dangers of Heading a Soccer Ball

Brain Injury Insider Episode 150: The Hidden Dangers of Heading a Soccer Ball

Today on The Brain Injury Insider, I want to look at a new report that should get the attention of every soccer parent, coach, athletic trainer, and athlete. Hidden Dangers of Heading a Soccer Ball A new study published in JAMA Neurology, entitled “Amateur Soccer Heading and Acute Elevations in Blood Based p-217 add S100b”, that looked at what happens within the brain after soccer players head the ball.  The study found that heading a soccer ball just once is enough to temporarily raise blood levels of proteins associated with brain cell damage. Researchers studied over 300 elite amateur male soccer players in the Netherlands. They took blood samples before matches, right after matches, and again 24 to 48 hours later. They also used cameras to track how often players headed the ball and estimate the force of those headers. What they found was concerning. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_WrSnAxWq8 Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP 228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017 Toll Free: (866) 272-4652 e: help@brainlaw.com brainlaw.com [https://brainlaw.com]

Brain Injury Insider Episode 149: Severe Brain Injury Recovery; New Study Offers Hope & Important Answers

Today, I want to discuss an important new study out of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center that raises a difficult, but critical issue in severe traumatic brain injury care: Decisions to Withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The research challenges the assumption that most patients with severe TBI have little chance of meaningful recovery. The study looked at over 500 patients with severe traumatic brain injury comparing outcome between patients whose life sustaining therapies were withdrawn and those who continued to receive care. The investigators report that more than one in three critically ill patients in their analysis could have achieved partial independence if life-sustaining care had not been withdrawn. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsjIrPwj4VQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsjIrPwj4VQ] Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/ [https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/] Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP 228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017 Toll Free: (866) 272-4652 e: help@brainlaw.com brainlaw.com [https://brainlaw.com]

Brain Injury Insider Episode 148: Study Finds Prior Concussion Increases Risk of Long-Term Disability Following a Motor Vehicle Crash

Is a prior concussion associated with an increased risk of long-term disability following a motor vehicle crash? That’s a question asked in a Canadian study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association open network published online on January 21 2026. The short answer is Yes. In the study of over 900,000 adult patients, the research found a past concussion was associated with a 15% increased risk of long-term disability. The findings according to the study authors stress that recovery following a concussion is often slow and incomplete with lingering neurocognitive complications. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn5ngebKe3M [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn5ngebKe3M] Find out more about our legal representation for car accident victims at https://brainlaw.com/vehicle-accident-lawyers/car-accident/ [https://brainlaw.com/vehicle-accident-lawyers/car-accident/] Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP 228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017 Toll Free: (866) 272-4652 e: help@brainlaw.com brainlaw.com [https://brainlaw.com]

Brain Injury Insider Episode 147: Toddler Concussion Symptoms: What Parents Should Know After a Fall

When people hear “concussion,” they often think of teen athletes. But concussions are also common in toddlers and preschoolers — and in young children, they most often happen because of falls. In this episode of The Brain Injury Insider, we discuss new research published in Pediatrics on early childhood concussion. The study, “Frequency and Predictors of Persisting Symptoms 1 Year After Early Childhood Concussion,” looked at children ages 6 months to 6 years old and found that about one in four developed prolonged symptoms after a concussion. These lingering symptoms can matter because they may affect learning, behavior, and development later in childhood. Because toddlers and preschoolers cannot always explain how they feel, parents should watch for changes such as: • Behavior changes • Excessive irritability • Appetite changes • Less social engagement • Stomach aches • Increased clinginess • Changes in sleep, mood, play, or daily routines A concussion is not “just a bump on the head.” If your child has a head injury and something seems off afterward, it is important to report the injury to your child’s doctor, describe the changes you are seeing, and ask what follow-up may be needed. This episode also covers practical tips for parents, including tracking symptoms over the first days and weeks, documenting changes, and asking about follow-up care if symptoms persist or interfere with daycare, preschool, or normal routines. Thanks for joining us this week on The Brain Injury Insider. If you found this information helpful, please share it and consider subscribing as we continue to uncover the hidden truths about brain injury and its impact on millions of lives. Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/ [https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/] Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP 228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017 Toll Free: (866) 272-4652 e: help@brainlaw.com brainlaw.com [https://brainlaw.com]

Brain Injury Insider Episode 146: Why You Might Need A Brain Injury Lawyer After Your Accident

Why should someone retain a brain injury law firm after an accident? Most people assume that any personal injury attorney can handle a brain injury case. But traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases are medically and legally different from typical injury claims. Brain injuries are often called “invisible injuries.” A person may appear normal while experiencing serious cognitive, physical, and emotional consequences such as: • Memory and concentration difficulties • Headaches and dizziness • Vision disturbances and sleep disruption • Anxiety, depression, and behavioral changes • Difficulty completing tasks or solving problems Radiology studies can sometimes appear normal even when real brain damage exists, making these cases more difficult to diagnose, explain, and prove. Brain injuries can occur in many types of accidents, including: • Slip and fall incidents • Motor vehicle collisions • Pedestrian accidents • Truck crashes • Construction accidents • Medical malpractice Because brain injury cases involve complex medical evidence, long-term care needs, and lifelong consequences, they require attorneys who understand both the medical science and the legal framework behind these injuries. At De Caro & Kaplen, our practice focuses on representing survivors of traumatic brain injury and helping them obtain the medical care and financial recovery they may need for the future. Find out more at https://brainlaw.com Brain Injury Insider is a weekly podcast by The Brain Injury Law Firm ®, De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. Host Michael Kaplen is a passionate advocate of the rights of brain injury survivors, and has been fighting on their behalf for over 40 years. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP 228 E. 45th Street, Suite 1100, New York, NY 10017 Toll Free: (866) 272-4652 e: help@brainlaw.com brainlaw.com [https://brainlaw.com]