ATTENTION: Assignment editors, health, research and science reportersFor immediate release

News — OTTAWA (March 12) 鈥 Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the number one killer and disabler of young Canadians under the age of 40. Each year, 50,000 Canadians sustain brain injury due to a blow to the head, a fall from a bike, a car accident or physical violence. In an instant, the victims鈥 lives change and they have to live with memory problems, headaches, attention deficits, mood swings and frustration. Young athletes are particularly susceptible to concussions, one type of TBI, thus the debate over whether violence should be eradicated from sports like hockey in an effort to reduce the number of brain injuries.

In light of Brain Awareness Week (March 12-18), CIHR-funded researchers are available to discuss the impact of TBI on people鈥檚 health.

Experts:

Giving your head a check: detection, diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuryDr. Anthony Phillips, Scientific Director of CIHR鈥檚 Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (Vancouver, British Columbia)

Concussions in athletes: is this an epidemic?Drs. Maryse Lassonde and Hugo Th茅oret, CIHR-funded researchers (Montr茅al, Qu茅bec)

Single and multiple concussions: the short and long-term consequencesDr. Robin Green, CIHR-funded researcher (Toronto, Ontario)

Why can鈥檛 I see right, mommy? Children with visual perception deficits following traumatic brain injuryDr. Robert Forget, CIHR-funded researcher (Montr茅al, Qu茅bec)

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

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