Concussion risks for older adults: What to know after Mitch McConnell’s fall

Are concussions different in older people?

Much of the concussion research focuses on young people, especially athletes, said Benjamin Emanuel, a neurologist with Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California. But doctors have identified a group of unique factors that put older people at higher risk for serious complications from a concussion.

The anatomy of the aging brain may predispose it to more severe brain damage: For example, older people are at a higher risk of tearing blood vessels in their brains, Dr. Salinas said. And taking blood-thinning medications, such as blood thinners, which are more common in an older population, can increase the risk of bleeding in the brain.

Dr Vavilala added that older people can also suffer from mood disorders like depression, which can worsen following a concussion, for reasons experts don’t fully understand.

How to treat a concussion?

There is no single drug to cure a concussion, Dr. Manley said. Instead, patients can manage symptoms with rest, physical therapy, and medication as needed. But, he added, most elderly patients can, and usually do, make a full recovery.

People should talk to their doctor about which over-the-counter medications they should take to manage headache symptoms, Dr. Lumba-Brown said.

Treatment of mild cases mainly involves rest, avoiding mental and physical exertion. “It’s like treating a sprain,” Dr. Emanuel said. The basics of good health — restful sleep, adequate hydration, regular visits to a primary care physician, and social support from friends and family — can all help.

Most older people will recover from a concussion in about a month, Dr Lumba-Brown said, but about a third will take longer than that. Patients with bleeding in the brain may have a longer recovery time, she added, which is why it is important to seek treatment immediately.