Ohio State Player's Case Is a Warning That Repeated Concussions Can Lead to Depression

The death of Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge is a warning that concussions have to be treated seriously and multiple concussions can lead to further problems.

“The biggest threat you have after having a concussion is repeating it after that,” says Richard Temes, MD, director of the Center for Neurocritical Care at the North Shore-LIJ Health System. “So typically if a football player, for instance, sustains a concussion, that player will leave the field and the practice is to skip the next game to give the brain time to heal.”

Dr. Temes says studies show that people suffering multiple concussions are more susceptible to conditions such as depression and dementia.

Some signs that someone has a concussion after sustaining some kind of head trauma include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Diminished awareness
• Confusion

“When you have a concussion, there’s no question – you need to get out of the game and you usually have to sit out for a good seven to 10 days after the game and then be evaluated by a specialist,” Dr. Temes says.

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