Scientists are announcing new discoveries about how concussions affect the brain and what factors govern their recovery on what seems like a weekly basis. The newest revelation is that the healthier a mind is before a concussion, the faster it will heal from one.

New research indicates that those who already have physiological impairments associated with mental illness in their brain when they are concussed are slower to recover. The researchers determined that those with pre-existing somatic symptoms (aches and pains caused by psychological distress) often took twice as long to return to full health.

Of course, there are other factors that affect the length of recovery: the severity of the concussion, the recovering patient’s level of activity, and drug and alcohol consumptions to name a few. Brain physiology is only one piece of the puzzle, and plenty more pieces still need to be added, but we’re slowly gaining a clearer overall picture of the thing we call concussion.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g-forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.