Interface astroglial scarring (IAS) has been described in the brains of US veterans exposed to blast overpressure injuries.  It is a form of ‘scarring’ of the brain.  Our understanding of IAS is in its infancy.  While it has been reported as specific to blast overpressure injuries, other researchers have reported similar findings in ex-contact sports athletes.  We do not yet understand how IAS impacts on brain function or if it is reversible with proper treatment.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is the tearing of the brain's ‘wiring’, that is the long nerve fibres connecting different parts of the brain to each other.  DAI typically happens when the brain is injured as it shifts and rotates inside the skull.  Blast overpressure injuries have been associated with DAI.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a relatively rare brain condition associated with repeated blows to the head. It was first reported in professional boxers almost one hundred years ago, and has more recently been identified in athletes from a variety of contact sports including American Football, rugby league and Australian Rules football. It has also been identified in some American military personnel, many of whom were exposed to blast-type injuries. To date, all US veterans diagnosed with CTE had also participated in contact and/or combat sports, making it hard to be certain if CTE can be caused purely by blasts or military service. The incidence of CTE in Australian ex-military personnel is unknown. 

For more comprehensive information and resources on CTE please visit our sister website at the Australian Sports Brain Bank.