The researchers reviewed 30 studies involving 7,993 people to understand whether recovery three months after a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) can predict what happens over the following 6–12 months. Most participants had a mild TBI. Overall, symptoms and day-to-day functioning improved most between leaving hospital and three months after injury. However, many people continued to experience symptoms or difficulties beyond three months, with rates ranging from 21% to 65% depending on the study and how recovery was measured. The studies differed too much in their methods and reporting to identify which personal or injury-related factors predict longer-term recovery. Many also excluded potentially vulnerable groups, such as older adults and people with existing cognitive or mental health conditions or intoxication. There was not enough evidence to compare mild and moderate TBI. Further well-designed research that includes a wider range of patients is needed to improve care and better predict recovery.

Blood tests can provide useful information about brain health, but taking blood from a vein is not always practical, especially in remote or outdoor settings. This study tested Tasso+, a small device worn on the upper arm that collects a tiny blood sample with minimal discomfort. Samples were taken before exercise, immediately afterwards and around one to one-and-a-half days later. The researchers also tested whether samples remained reliable when they were kept at room temperature for up to 72 hours before processing. Results from Tasso+ were compared with standard blood samples taken from a vein and with another small-sample collection method. Tasso+ successfully measured several important signs of brain health and the body’s response, even when processing was delayed. This suggests that the device could make brain-health research easier in places where standard blood collection is difficult, and may allow people to collect samples themselves at home.

This study looked at whether “days alive and out of hospital” is a useful way to measure recovery after surgery to drain a long-term collection of blood on the surface of the brain, known as a chronic subdural haematoma. Using national patient data, the researchers tested how reliable this measure is and compared it between healthcare organisations with more traditional measures, such as deaths and the number of days patients spent in hospital.

After a traumatic brain injury, brain cells may struggle to produce energy normally and may start relying more on less efficient, oxygen-limited processes. Doctors often monitor this using the balance between two chemicals, lactate and pyruvate. In this study, researchers tested a different measure that looks at how lactate changes in relation to pyruvate over periods of time. They analysed monitoring data from 591 patients treated in Cambridge and Uppsala, and also tested the measure in human nerve cells grown in the laboratory. The new measure was linked to lower glucose levels in the brain and, in the Cambridge group, to poorer recovery six months after injury. It also increased when energy production was deliberately disrupted in laboratory-grown nerve cells. These findings suggest that this time-based measure may identify abnormal, oxygen-limited energy use in the injured brain more accurately than the commonly used lactate-to-pyruvate ratio. It could therefore help clinicians better understand changes in brain metabolism after traumatic brain injury.

Meningiomas are tumours that grow in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Most are slow-growing, but grade 2 and grade 3 meningiomas are more serious and are more likely to come back after treatment. Because these types are less common, there is limited information about what usually happens to patients after surgery. This study brings together evidence from previous research to better estimate how often these tumours return, and how many people remain well or survive five years after treatment. The findings should help doctors, researchers, and patients better understand the outlook for people with grade 2 and grade 3 meningiomas.

This study looked at real-world motorcycle crashes in Great Britain between 2013 and 2025 to better understand where riders’ helmets were hit and what kinds of head and face injuries occurred. Most riders in the study were wearing helmets, but head and facial injuries were still common. About one in three riders had a head injury, and around one in four had a traumatic brain injury. Many helmet impacts involved the face area, especially the upper face and chinbar, and these impacts were linked with serious injuries such as skull fractures and bleeding inside the head. The findings suggest that future helmet safety tests and ratings should put more emphasis on facial impacts, not just impacts to the top or sides of the head, so helmets can be designed to give better protection in crashes.