Brain Injury Insider

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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

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500 patients with severe traumatic brain injury comparing outcome between patients whose life sustaining therapies were withdrawn and those who continued to receive care.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critically ill patients in their analysis could have achieved partial independence if life-sustaining care had not been withdrawn.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

Find out more about brain injury at 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

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

Find out more about our legal representation for car accident victims at 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

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/

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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

Today on The Brain Injury Insider, I want to call your attention to an important breakthrough in the management of traumatic brain injury:  

The development of outpatient clinical practice guidelines designed to standardize care for the millions of Americans recovering from TBI.

Although protocols exist for emergency care and hospital management of people with a brain injury, no protocols exist regarding outpatient management following emergency care or inpatient hospital care, and no guidelines exist for individuals who never were seen in a hospital. 

Patient care following a traumatic brain injury is inconsistent, fragmented and often inadequate.  This includes people suffering from concussions as well as other types of brain trauma. 

Less than half of individuals with a TBI receive any follow-up care after they leave the emergency department.    

Failing to provide follow up care contributes to prolonged symptoms, unnecessary disability, and missed opportunities for early intervention.

To address this, the Action Collaborative on TBI Care, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has released evidence-based guidelines that focus on the first six months after injury. These new guidelines are published in the Annals of Family Medicine to make outpatient care predictable, effective, and patient-centered.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/e7EsYpmdB08

Find out more about brain injury at 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

Today, I’d like to discuss a new study examining treatment options following the development of a traumatic subdural hematoma, a condition when blood collects rapidly on the surface of the brain.

This bleeding may cause pressure on the brain and lead to worsening injury, cognitive impairment, and even death.

Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury, particularly among older adults and children. A slip, trip, a misstep can lead to a blow to the head, or the sudden deceleration of the brain when it moves inside the skull, causing damage to brain tissue and blood vessels within the brain.

In an article published in the JAMA Journal entitled “Acute Surgery vs Conservative Treatment for Traumatic Acute Subdural Hematoma,” researchers looked at data from 18 Level-1 trauma centers across the U.S. They focused on over 700 patients who had developed an acute subdural hematoma after head trauma.

The big question: Do centers that usually operate early have better outcomes than those that lean more toward nonoperative, or conservative, management?

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQpIrPulRfw

Find out more about brain injury at 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

Today, we’re tackling an often-overlooked issue in forensic neuropsychology: the assessment of Spanish-speaking adults.

As the Hispanic population in the United States continues to grow, lawyers and experts face new challenges when language and culture intersect with brain injury evaluations.  These issues were raised in an interesting article in published in  the journal Brain Injury entitled “Considerations in the Neuropsychological Assessment of Spanish-Speaking Adults”

The issues identified are pertinent to all foreign speaking clients undergoing a neuropsychological assessment.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3beD1uXz1sI

Find out more about brain injury at 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

As we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we pause to honor the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Dr. King—a visionary leader whose moral courage and unwavering commitment helped move our nation closer to justice, equality, and dignity for all.

Dr. King taught us that the pursuit of justice is not confined to history books or holidays. It is an ongoing obligation that demands vigilance, compassion, and action.

At De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, we are guided by the belief that every person deserves to be heard, respected, and protected under the law—regardless of background or circumstance. On this day of reflection, we reaffirm our commitment to the values Dr. King so powerfully championed:

• Justice  
• Equality  
• The relentless pursuit of what is right  

Because equal rights must include equal access to justice.

This is a responsibility we take seriously every day.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW93Khmp8OI

Find out more about our brain injury advocacy 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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com

Words matter—especially when it comes to brain injury.

In this episode of The Brain Injury Insider, we discuss a new joint statement from leading brain injury organizations that aims to improve how brain injury is defined, discussed, and understood across medicine, law, policy, and public life.

The guidance, titled “Communicating About Brain Injury,” was released by the Brain Injury Association of America and partner organizations to address outdated and often harmful language surrounding brain injury—including the overuse of “mild, moderate, and severe” labels.

Key topics include:
• Why traditional “severity” labels are misleading
• Brain injury as a chronic, lifelong condition
• Traumatic vs. non-traumatic (acquired) brain injury
• Twelve core principles for communicating about brain injury
• How language affects insurance claims, access to services, clinical care, and legal outcomes
• The importance of centering people with brain injury as whole individuals

Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, clinician, researcher, legal professional, or advocate, this conversation is essential.

Organizations involved in developing the guidance include:
• The Brain Injury Association of America
• The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM)
• The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
• The North American Brain Injury Society
• PINK Concussions
• The TBI Model Systems

As a past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and former chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council, I commend these organizations for advancing this important work.

Read the full guidance here:
https://biausa.org/CommunicatingAboutBrainInjury

Find out more about brain injury at https://brainlaw.com/brain-injuries/help/

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuC69k85hY

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: [email protected]
brainlaw.com