Attorney at Graves McLain Injury Lawyers
Practice Areas: Car Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Vaccine Injuries
When we think of brain injuries in football or other contact sports, concussions often take the spotlight. But new research suggests that even hits that don’t result in a concussion—called sub-concussive impacts—may still cause lasting damage to the brain.
A recent study involving collegiate football players showed that repeated head impacts, even without diagnosed concussions, can result in apparent modifications to the brain structure. This adds to growing concern about the long-term risks athletes face—even when they don’t show immediate symptoms.
Let’s break down what this study means, what researchers found, and how these findings may affect both athletes and brain injury victims in Oklahoma.
Sub-concussive impacts are hits to the head that don’t result in immediate symptoms or a concussion diagnosis. These blows are common in football, soccer, boxing, and other high-contact sports. They might seem harmless in the moment, but their effects can add up over time.
Unlike a concussion, which often causes dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness, sub-concussive hits fly under the radar. Athletes may continue playing without realizing anything is wrong.
But repeated exposure—even during practice—can slowly affect the brain. These impacts may damage white matter, which helps Different areas of the brain communicate and function normally.
A study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Rochester followed 38 college football players over three seasons (2011–2013). Each player received MRI brain scans before and after their football season.
During that time, the athletes sustained nearly 20,000 head impacts—but only two concussions were officially diagnosed. Despite the low number of diagnosed concussions, over two-thirds of players showed signs of white matter damage in their midbrains. This region is crucial for tasks like eye movement, alertness, and coordination.
More than two‑thirds of athletes showed signs of reduced white matter integrity—even though only two had clinically diagnosed concussions.
Interestingly, twisting impacts—where the head turns sharply rather than being hit straight-on—caused more damage than direct blows. A separate analysis involved 87 athletes: 29 with diagnosed concussions and 58 without. Even the athletes who weren’t diagnosed with a concussion showed increased tau protein levels in their blood and changes in their MRI scans.
Of 376 examined former NFL players, 345 had evidence of CTE—even when they had no history of diagnosed concussion.
These findings show that subtle damage may start long before symptoms appear.
Sub-concussive trauma may lead to severe long-term brain conditions. One of the most well-known is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries.
CTE symptoms may not appear until years after the trauma. People with CTE often experience memory loss, depression, mood swings, aggression, and confusion. Unfortunately, CTE can only be diagnosed after death.
The best available evidence suggests that nonconcussive impacts, not concussions, are the driving force behind CTE.
Another concern is Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), which occurs when the brain’s white matter is stretched or torn. This can happen from sudden head movements, even without direct impact. In both conditions, white matter deterioration and tau protein buildup are key indicators of injury.
Sub-concussive injuries may not be visible on the surface—but they can still lead to significant medical costs, emotional distress, and life changes.
In Oklahoma, personal injury law allows victims to seek compensation if someone else’s negligence contributed to their injury. That might include a school, sports league, coach, or medical provider who failed to protect an athlete from repeated hits.
If a child or college athlete starts showing signs of brain injury after years of play—even without a single diagnosed concussion—it may be worth having their medical records reviewed by a lawyer.
Oklahoma also follows a comparative negligence rule. This means your compensation may be reduced if you were partially at fault—but you can still collect damages if someone else was principally liable.
Proving a brain injury case—especially without a precise concussion diagnosis—requires deep legal and medical knowledge. At Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, we’ve seen firsthand how traumatic brain injuries affect lives.
Our team works with neurologists, radiologists, and other experts to:
These injuries are often misunderstood, delayed, or dismissed—especially when no single event caused them. But your suffering is real, and the law may support your right to recover compensation.
Study & Year | Population | Key Findings | Outcomes Measured |
Carnegie Mellon / Rochester (2011–13) | 38 college football players | ~20,000 hits; >2/3 showed white matter changes; only 2 concussed | Diffusion MRI, tau levels |
Cross-sport blood studies | 29 concussed, 58 not | Elevated tau and MRI changes in both groups | Biomarkers within 72 hours |
NFL player brain studies (2025) | 376 former players | 345 had CTE despite few having diagnosed concussions | Post-mortem brain analysis |
Yes. Medical research shows that repeated hits—without concussion symptoms—can still cause structural brain changes over time.
Tau protein builds up in brain tissue after injury. Elevated levels are often a sign of brain damage, even when no symptoms are visible right away.
You can still pursue a claim. Lawyers may use imaging, blood tests, and expert review to show injury caused by repeated trauma.
As early as possible. Prompt action helps preserve evidence, get medical exams, and protect your rights during insurance or legal proceedings.
People may notice memory issues, trouble focusing, mood swings, or personality changes that worsen gradually over months or years.
Oklahoma law allows compensation for medical bills, pain, suffering, and more. Your award may be reduced if you’re partly at fault, but you can still recover.
Sub-concussive head impacts are silent but serious. Just because there’s no concussion diagnosis doesn’t mean the brain is unharmed. Over time, these hits can lead to white matter loss, tau buildup, and even chronic brain conditions like CTE.
If you or a loved one has suffered repeated head trauma—whether in sports or elsewhere—and now struggles with memory, focus, or mood, it’s worth speaking to someone who understands both the medicine and the law.
At Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, we help individuals and families navigate the complex process of identifying and pursuing brain injury claims. With experience, empathy, and access to top medical experts, we’re here to listen and help.
When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
