Longitudinal effects of pediatric concussion into adulthood

Each year, millions of children are diagnosed with concussions. This review summarizes current evidence on the long-term effects of pediatric concussion into adulthood. Findings regarding long-term neuropsychiatric outcomes are heterogeneous. Advanced neuroimaging studies provide limited evidence of lasting neurobiological alterations, and long-term studies remain scarce. Rodent models that mimic adolescent mild traumatic brain injury consistently demonstrate chronic neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, and memory deficits. Overall, conclusions are constrained by substantial methodological heterogeneity. Further high-quality longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the long-term impact of pediatric concussion.