More Women Than Men Seek Medical Attention Due To Persistent Symptoms

Women take longer to recover from concussion than men, new research suggests.

Authors of a study in the journal Radiology found that patients who experience concussion – mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) – typically recover fully within three months.

However, between 10% and 15% of patients will continue to experience persistent problems beyond this period, with nearly twice as many women than men seeking medical attention as a result.

The researchers used MRI scans to analyse brain activation patterns during working memory tasks – a function often impaired after a concussion – a month after an injury. They also received a follow-up scan six months after the first.

At the follow-up exam, the male participants had largely returned to normal activation patterns, whereas women were more likely to display persistent problems.

Lead study author Dr Chi-Jen Chen, from the Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, said: "These findings provide evidence that female gender may be a risk factor for working memory impairment after MTBI. If so, more aggressive management should be initiated once MTBI is diagnosed in female patients."