Dr Paul Weightman Potter

👶 I am taking a brief break from Bluesky during paternity leave as we welcome our second child. I look forward to returning and sharing more about #braininjury when life settles. Thank you for the support.
#FamilyTime #BrainHealth

🧠🌍 Happy #WorldBrainDay!
A #braininjury can happen to anyone at any time & its impacts are life-changing.

We’ve developed a Clinical Practice Guideline & Care Pathways to support consistent, evidence-based brain injury care:
🔗 kite-uhn.com/brain-injury...
🔗 www.neurotraumapathways.ca

Why GRAS matters for #concussion
📈 GRAS = Graduated Return to Activity and Sport. Six light-exercise stages over at least 21 days. Slow steps beat total bed rest and cut set-backs.
#TBI #BrainInjury

🧠 You don’t need a direct hit to the head to suffer a #concussion. A heavy body blow, whiplash fall, or blast wave can whip the brain inside the skull and cause the same injury. Watch for symptoms after any big impact.
#Braininjury #TBI

✅ True! Brain injuries are common among survivors of #IntimatePartnerViolence (up to 92% of all IPV cases) because the head, face, & neck are areas most likely to be injured in an assault.

Check out the link below for more info on #braininjury and IPV:
🔗 www.neurotraumapathways.ca/intimate-par...

Pure guess but I would estimate they are the more vulnerable ones. Perhaps weaker necks or other factors

Most exciting results are the surprising ones haha. Good luck applying for funding :)

I see your point, very important to explore this concept. I've got some data on head impacts and subsequent cognitive function changes in amateur American footballers. Perhaps I can see if head impacts in pre-season have any bearing on outcomes later on. Can keep you in the loop if we see anything

Oh that's interesting, I was aware of the increased risk of injury but the subsequent decrease and then increase is new to me. Would love to see the paper when published. Over what time scale roughly does that occur?

A nice metaphor is perhaps one bottle of wine will have no meaningful impact on your life in the long run, but a bottle of wine a night or 10 bottles in one night will. Similar thinking (in my brain at least) about head impacts. (your mileage may vary with the volumes of alcohol lol).

What is known about the mechanisms of #CTE?
🔬 Each impact twists axons, leaks tau, and sparks inflammation. Misfolded tau spreads from cortex to deeper regions, killing neurons and glia. Years later this cascade drives the symptoms we call CTE. 🧠
#TBI #BrainInjury #Concussion

A one off gentle bump to the head (e.g. walking into a door slowly) will likely have no meaningful impact on your life. Keep walking into that door every day or one-off big impacts will definitely be bad!

True? startling statistic! Demonstrates the need to shift the focus more onto non-sporting forms of head injuries

How can reduce the occurrence of CTE?
🛡 Limit head impact forces in training, teach safe technique, strengthen necks, enforce strict return to play rules (with quantifiable data), and track exposure. Fewer knocks today mean healthier brains tomorrow.
#TBI #CTE #BrainInjury

How big is the risk of CTE? 🧠
In donated brains, 50–90% of former pro American-football players. These samples come from families who suspected problems, so the true prevalence across all athletes is still unknown. We need large, unbiased studies to find the real numbers.
#CTE #BrainInjury #science

My pleasure and not a problem at all. Good to bring awareness to this!

Who is at risk of CTE?
🏈 Athletes in contact sports, military personnel, boxers, and anyone with long years of repetitive head knocks, even if many were called mild. More hits and less recovery time mean higher danger.
#CTE #TBI #BrainInjury

What is CTE?
🧠 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. It brings memory loss, mood change, and movement problems years after the exposure to brain injuries.
#CTE #TBI #BrainInjury

What happens when you have a #concussion? 🧠
One month and beyond
📉 Most people improve, but 10–20 % face lingering symptoms.
📊 Tracking mood, sleep, and cognition helps spot persistent issues early.
Lifestyle choices, fitness, social contact, learning, keep brain ageing at bay.
#BrainInjury #TBI

What happens when you have a #concussion? 🧠
Weeks 1–4: Rewiring and plasticity
🧬 Synapses reorganise, new pathways strengthen with practice.
🏃 Structured aerobic exercise boosts blood flow and growth factors.
Sleep quality helps memory and mood gains.
#braininjury

What happens when you have a #concussion?🧠
Days 1–7 Repair and vulnerability
🔄 #Glia clear debris and begin repair, but the #brain will struggle to use sugar
🤕 Symptoms may peak here, headaches, fog, mood shifts.
Gentle activity, neck and balance checks, and nutrition aid recovery.
#Braininjury #TBI

Partly! Lots of factors at play, but the metabolic disruption paired with the mechanical weakness caused by trauma will make the brain more sensitive. Doubly bad, due to a concussion you're more likely to get injured, probably due to cognitive impairment in decision making/balance/reaction

What happens when you have a #concussion? 🧠

Hours 1–24: The metabolic crisis
🧠 Cells switch to emergency mode, increasing glucose consumption.
⚠️ Inflammation starts, ion balance disrupted, risk of further damage.
Hydration, monitored sleep, & minimal stimulation support early stability
#braininjury

What happens when you have a #concussion? 🧠
Zero to 60 minutes: The impact zone
💥 Microscopic axon stretching, ionic storm, and sudden energy demand.
🩸 Blood flow dips, then surges, causing a brief metabolic mismatch.
Early rest and removal from play are critical in this golden hour.
#BrainInjury

🤝 Caregivers of #TBI survivors risk burnout and depression. Peer groups, respite programmes, and financial guidance help families stay strong alongside the injured person. Care for carers too.
#CaregiverSupport #BrainInjury #MentalHealth

📉 Low-income survivors of brain injury face longer waits for scans, therapy, even transport to clinics. Health equity means funding rehab access, not just emergency care.
#equity #TBI #Healthcare #BrainInjury

🧠 Your #brain is tougher than you think. Unlike muscles and joints that wear out quickly, neural circuits can rewire, grow new links and stay sharp well into later life. Feed it good sleep, movement, learning and social time to keep it thriving. #BrainHealth #Neuroplasticity #Braininjury

🤝 Peer groups, mentoring, and caregiver training reduce isolation and boost recovery. Find a local @headwayuk.bsky.social group or start a coffee meet-up for survivors and families.
#BrainInjurySupport #CommunityCare #BrainInjury #Concussion #TBI

💼 Flexible hours, rest breaks, and task reminders help employees with brain injury stay productive and valued. Employers, simple adjustments keep talent in the team.
#WorkplaceWellbeing #TBI #BrainInjury

🔔 Quiet spaces in shops, captioned videos, and clear signage make life easier for those with sensory overload or slower processing after #TBI. Small changes, big impact.
#Inclusion #Accessibility #BrainHealth #BrainInjury