Traumatic brain injury is a frightfully common occurrence that affects people from all walks of life. Interestingly, much of what we know about concussions comes from preclinical and clinical studies of male subjects, although that has begun to change. A driving force behind the change has been Katherine Price Snedaker, LCSW, the Executive Director and Founder of PINK Concussions. While the phrase “pink concussion” might have been used as a euphemism for female concussion, make no mistake that Snedaker’s PINK Concussion has become a force of nature driving the discussion, refocusing the research, and demanding that concussion in women and girls be treated with parity in health care and legal compensation. For more information about PINK Concussions, please continue reading, then contact an experienced Connecticut brain injury lawyer soon.
What is the purpose of PINK Concussions?
Due to the dearth of information regarding concussions in females, experts do not have a full understanding of females and sex- or gender-related differences in the following areas:
- Epidemiology
- Prevention
- Education
- Neuroprotection
- Hormonal dysregulation
- Secondary injury
- Rehabilitation timing and therapeutics, and
- Specific outcomes
PINK Concussions aims to fill that void.
Why are concussions more prevalent among women and girls?
PINK Concussions has publicized and advocated for recognition that women and girls sustain more concussions and have worse outcomes than their male counterparts. While any number of events can lead to a concussion, three of the most common include:
- Intimate partner violence: Nationally representative studies of intimate partner violence have shown a higher prevalence among women than among men, particularly for the more severe forms that can lead to traumatic brain injury.
- Sports: Women of all ages and participating in all manner of sports have a greater likelihood of sustaining a traumatic brain injury.
- Military service: In 2015, the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps announced that they would allow women to serve in all military positions, including combat roles. Since then, traumatic brain injuries among female veterans have risen.
Why are concussions more severe for women and girls?
Researchers are still trying to figure out why concussions in females pose a greater risk for worse outcomes. While physiognomy (such as smaller neck size) no doubt plays some part in why women experience more severe and longer-lasting symptoms, the greater part of the blame belongs to our scanty data concerning concussions among female subjects. There is some interesting research that suggests that axonal structure in females may be more susceptible to injury. Newfound sex differences in axonal structure underlie differential outcomes from in vitro traumatic axonal injury. Other research suggests that rather than binary distinctions, the differences may be based on primary brain architecture groupings. While a structural explanation for prolonged symptoms may be of little consequence for the injured patient, it does heighten the importance of prevention.
How can you help PINK Concussions?
Ultimately, the medical field may need to develop and gender-specific evidence-based strategies for the identification, management and support of women and girls with brain injuries. To accomplish that, you and others might use your voices to raise awareness through social and traditional media. In addition, you might hold or contribute to fundraisers, and donate to PINK Concussions.
In the meantime, if you or a loved one have sustained a concussion due to another party’s negligence or willful misconduct, please speak with a skilled Fairfield County, Connecticut personal injury lawyer today.
Contact our experienced Connecticut Firm
Contact Casper & de Toledo today to schedule your free initial consultation with our seasoned traumatic brain injury lawyers.
