Sports Brain Injuries, Concussions & CTE

What Happens to the Brain in Sports

Repetitive hits to the head don’t just cause “one bad concussion.”
Over time, contact sports can create tiny but repeated injuries to the brain.
Some are diagnosed concussions. Many are sub-concussive blows – hits that never get reported or recognized.

These repeated impacts can change how brain cells and networks work.
For some athletes, especially in high-impact sports, that damage adds up over years and can lead to long-term problems, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other forms of brain injury.

It’s Not Just Football

Yes, football gets most of the headlines. But families are seeing the same patterns across many sports:

• Hockey – checks into the boards, fights, falls

• Boxing / MMA – repeated blows to the head are the whole sport

• Soccer – heading the ball, collisions in the air

• Rugby / Aussie rules / lacrosse – high-speed impacts and tackles

• Cheer, gymnastics, skating – falls from height or at speed

If your loved one played any of these sports and “hasn’t been the same” since, you are not imagining it. You are not overreacting. You are seeing the brain try to cope with real injury.

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Real-Life Symptoms Families Notice

Sports brain injuries don’t always look like what we see on TV.
Often, families notice changes long before a doctor connects the dots.

Common changes include:

• Mood swings, irritability, or anger that “comes out of nowhere”

• Depression, anxiety, or emotional flatness

• Memory problems or trouble following conversations

• Slower processing – they need more time to think or respond

• Headaches, light or noise sensitivity

• Sleep problems, exhaustion, or “never fully rested”

• Losing interest in things they used to love

• Getting lost, disorganized, or overwhelmed by simple tasks

You might hear: “He just seems different,” “She’s not herself,” or
“Everyone says it’s stress or getting older, but I know it’s more than that.”

Why This Often Gets Missed

Most sports-related brain injuries are invisible to other people.

• Many athletes are trained to “shake it off” and keep playing.

• Symptoms may show up years after the last game.

• Standard scans can look “normal” even when the brain is struggling.

• Friends and coworkers may say, “But you look fine.”

Caregivers end up trying to explain what they’re seeing at home while feeling dismissed, blamed, or told it’s “just mental health.” Mental health absolutely matters—but for many athletes and former athletes, the root cause includes structural and functional brain changes.

You Are Not Alone

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like my person,” you are not alone.

Robbins Nest Alliance was created by a family living this every day—navigating mood changes, memory loss, and the long shadow of sports and service-related brain injuries.

Here’s what we offer:

• Brain Injury 101 – simple, evidence-informed education you can actually understand

• Caregiver tools – checklists, questions to ask doctors, and ways to track symptoms

• Stories and community – so you don’t have to explain this from scratch every time

 Next Steps

If you suspect a sports-related brain injury or CTE:

• Write down when symptoms started and how they’ve changed.

• Note any history of concussions, knock-outs, or “seeing stars.”

• Bring a short list of examples to medical appointments.

• If possible, see a provider familiar with brain injury and CTE.

We can’t diagnose or treat—but we can help you feel less alone and more prepared.

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Learn More About Sports Brain Injuries

Want to go deeper? Start here:

• Brain Injury 101 – Sports & CTE (overview guide)
• Caregiver checklists for mood and memory changes
• Stories from families living with sports-related brain injury

 

 

Get caregiver tools for sports-related brain injuries