Research indicates a clear link between brain injuries and various debilitating neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Concussions are also called Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (MTBI) and are one of the most common neurologic disorders. They can occur when an impact or forceful motion of the head results in a brief alteration of mental status, such as confusion or disorientation, loss of memory for events immediately before or after the injury, or a loss of consciousness.
Our primary research focus is on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is also called Dementia pugilistica or “punch-drunk” syndrome. It occurs in people who have suffered multiple concussions. It commonly manifests as dementia, or declining mental ability, problems with memory, and parkinsonism, or tremors and lack of coordination. Patients with CTE may be prone to inappropriate or explosive behavior and may display pathological jealousy or paranoia.
CTE is appearing not only in boxers but also football players and other athletes. Traumatic brain injury is also the second most common injury sustained by U.S. troops involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and many believe it could lead to cases of CTE.
Publications by Dr. Julian Bailes
1) Bailes JE. Sports-related concussion: what do we know in 2009-a neurosurgeon’s perspective. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2009; 15(4): 509-11.
2) Roberts L, Bailes J, Dedhia H, et al. Surviving a mine explosion. J Am Coll Surg. 2008; 207(2): 276-83.
3) Bailes JE, Petschauer M, Guskiewicz KM, et al. Management of cervical spine injuries in athletes. J Athl Train. 2007; 42(1): 126-34.
4) Guskiewicz KM, Marshall SW, Bailes J, et al. Recurrent concussion and risk of depression in retired professional football players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39(6): 903-9.
5) Miele VJ, Bailes JE. Objectifying when to halt a boxing match: a video analysis of fatalities. Neurosurgery 2007;60(2): 307-15.
6) Miele VJ, Bailes JE, Martin NA. Participation in contact or collision sports in athletes with epilepsy, genetic risk factors, structural brain lesions, or history of craniotomy. Neurosurg Focus. 2006; 21(4): E9.
7) Miele VJ, Norwig JA, Bailes JE. Sideline and ringside evaluation for brain and spinal injuries. Neurosurg Focus. 2006; 21(4): E8.
8) Miele VJ, Bailes JE, Cantu RC, et al. Subdural hematomas in boxing: the spectrum of consequences. Neurosurg Focus. 2006; 21(4): E10.
9) Guskiewicz KM, Marshall SW, Bailes J, et al. Association between recurrent concussion and late-life cognitive impairment in retired professional football players. Neurosurgery. 2005; 57(4): 719-26.
10) Bailes JE. Experience with cervical stenosis and temporary paralysis in athletes. J Neurosurg Spine. 2005; 2(1): 11-6.
11) Bailes JE, Miele VJ. The science of sports medicine. Clin Neurosurg. 2004; 51: 91-101.
12) Miele VJ, Carson L, Carr A, Bailes JE. Acute on chronic subdural hematoma in a female boxer: a case report. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36(11): 1852-5.
13) Carr AM, Bailes JE, Helmkamp JC, et al. Neurological injury and death in all-terrain vehicle crashes in West Virginia: a 10-year retrospective review. Neurosurgery. 2004; 54(4): 861-6.
14) Bailes JE, Hudson V. Classification of Sport-Related Head Trauma: A Spectrum of Mild to Severe Injury. J Athl Train. 2001; 36(3): 236-243.
15) Miele VJ, Bailes JE, Voelker JL. Boxing and the neurosurgeon. Clin Neurosurg 2002; 49: 396-406.
16) Bailes JE, Cantu RC, Day AL. The neurosurgeon in sport: awareness of the risks of heatstroke and dietary supplements. Neurosurgery. 2002; 51(2): 283-6.
17) Prabhu VC, Bailes JE. Chronic subdural hematoma complicating arachnoid cyst secondary to soccer-related head injury: case report. Neurosurgery 2002; 50(1): 195-7.
Publications by Dr. Bennet Omalu
1) Omalu BI, Bailes JE, Fitzsimmons RP, Hammers JL, et al. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Suicides and Parasuicides in Professional American Athletes. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2010; 31(1): 1-3.
2) Omalu BI, Lindner JL, Janssen JK, et al. The role of environmental factors in the causation of sudden death in infants: two cases of sudden unexpected death in two unrelated infants who were cared for by the same babysitter. J Forensic Sci 2007; 52(6): 1355-8.
3) Armah HB, Wang G, Omalu BI, et al. Systemic distribution of West Nile virus infection: postmortem immunohistochemical study of six cases. Brain Pathol 2007; 17(4): 354-62.
4) Omalu BI, DeKosky ST, Hamilton RL, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a national football league player: part II. Neurosurgery 2006; 59(5): 1086-92.
5) Omalu BI, Cho P, Shakir AM, et al. Suicides following bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2005; 1(4): 447-9.
6) Omalu BI, Mancuso JA, Cho P, et al. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in an exhumed decomposed brain after twenty months of burial in a deep grave. J Forensic Sci 2005; 50(6): 1453-8.
7) Omalu BI, DeKosky ST, Minster RL, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a National Football League player. Neurosurgery 2005; 57(1): 128-34.
8) Omalu BI. Diagnosis of traumatic diffuse axonal injury. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2004; 25(3): 270.
9) Omalu BI, Wiley CA, Hamilton RL. February 2003: a 53-year-old male with new onset seizures. Brain Pathol 2003; 13(3): 419-20, 423.
10) Pulipaka U, Lacomis D, Omalu B. Amiodarone-induced neuromyopathy: three cases and a review of the literature. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2002; 3(3): 97-105.
