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Headlines – Special Edition 8 Then and now From early warnings about concussion to world-leading breakthroughs It’s fitting that the first article in the first issue of the Neurological Foundation’s national newsletter focused on head injury in sport. Concussion continues to be amajor challenge in brain health and three of the studies in our latest grant round are for groundbreaking new research into brain injury. A study into concussion in sport was the first research reported on in our national newsletter in 1976 (the newsletter was later relaunched as Headlines in 1990). Led by Auckland neurosurgeon Mr PhilipWrightson, the study challenged the widespread public perception that concussion was “just a knock to the head.” Philipurged readers to rethink theglorificationof players who shrugoffan injury to return to thefield. Thearticle warned: “EverySaturday this scene is repeatedwithminor variations inalmost every townandcity inNewZealand. Aplayer is knockedunconsciousmomentarily, recovers quickly andgoes onwith thegame. “But according to research recently carried out at Auckland Hospital, the player is almost certainly not capable of giving his best to the game no matter how short the period of unconsciousness or how small the lump on the head.” Philip’s research showed that in every case of concussion, even minor ones, there was some brain damage – and that damage could become lifelong without recovery time. “Repeated concussion could result in permanent injury to the brain. And the concussions would not necessarily need to be severe to do so,” Philip said, later adding: “All the cells in the body have the ability to renew themselves except the nerve cells in the brain ... “The brain does, however, have a unique ability. Given time, other nerve cells seem to take over and do the job that was previously carried out by the injured parts, provided the injury is not too extensive. “The Auckland Hospital research shows how important it is to allow time for the full recovery of function.” The average patient in the study took one month to fully recover, and Philip emphasised that allowing generous recovery time was necessary to restore function, and to avoid embarrassment at work. “The person who returns to work too soon after a head injury is doing himself and his employer a disservice.” Philip would be thrilled to know that New Zealand has gone on to lead the world in developing better understandings in this field. The cumulative risk of brain damage frommultiple head knocks is now well established and has a name: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is defined as a progressive brain disease caused by repeated head injuries, in which abnormal proteins build up in the brain over time, leading to changes in memory, thinking, behaviour and mood. The Neurological Foundation has funded multiple studies into CTE. In 2019 the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank launched the New Zealand Sports Brain Bank, which contains brain tissue from confirmed CTE cases, among them rugby players. As for Philip Wrightson, he was honoured with a fellowship in his name to mark the Neurological Foundation’s 25th anniversary in 1997. Today, the Philip Wrightson Fellowship is offered each year to recent PhD graduates to undertake research internationally. National Newsletter Issue 1 (1976): The Effect of Head Injury on Intellectual Function