Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

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Professor Stern is a Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. As co-founder of the BU CTE Center and former Director of Clinical Research, he has spent nearly two decades pioneering ways to detect and diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during life, while uncovering the long-term neurological impact of repetitive head trauma in former athletes. His ground-breaking work includes major projects such as the landmark DETECT and DIAGNOSE CTE studies, the Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study, and numerous investigations into biomarkers and diagnostic criteria for concussion and CTE. With more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, key advisory roles with the NFLPA and NCAA, and recognition such as the 2025 Leon Thal Prize for Research Excellence, Professor Stern is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts shaping modern concussion and CTE science.
  
06:50 - Dr Robert Stern’s Journey into Neurology, Neurodegenerative Disease and Repetitive Head Impacts
13:00 - What Does Boston University CTE Do?
15:55 – Repetitive Head Impacts 
20:45 – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy 
24:35 – Dementia 
28:25 – Neurological Disease’s and Clinical Testing In vivo 
32:24 – Biomarkers, Diagnosis Dementia and Growth in the Field
40:00 – Nocebo Effect and Understanding/ Misunderstanding of What is Known
45:35 - Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome and Diagnostic Criteria
01:02:00 – Summary of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome
01:07:00 – How to Help and Support Dr Stern’s Work
 
 
Professor Robert Stern: 
https://www.bu.edu/cte/

https://www.bu.edu/cte/profile/robert-stern/
 
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=42mlewcAAAAJ&hl=en
 
 
 
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Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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Dr Daneshvar is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Chair of physical medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation, and Co-Director of Sports Concussion at Mass General Brigham, whilst also a long-time collaborator with the Boston University CTE Centre. Lastly, Dr Daneshvar earned the National Neurotrauma Society's 2024 Rising Star Award, whilst publishing more than 100 papers and being cited over 18,000 times by his academic peers. One of those articles is “Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at death in National Football League players: retrospective population-based cohort study, 2008-21” The topic of today’s conversation. 

01:15 - Journey into Neurosciences and Brain Injury 
02:50 – What is and Difference Between Concussion and CTE
05:16 -  “Prevalence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Death in National Football League Players: Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study, 2008-21” What are the major findings? How was it conducted…. Etc
09:10 – Extrapolation of CTE in Populations & Correlation Against Death Certificates
12:13 – Stage’s of CTE
15:10 - Accelerometer Data as a Predictor of CTE vs Career Length 
18:10 - Significant Challenges in Conducting Studies Around CTE
23:10 – Risk Reduction 
27:40 - How Can we Help Support Dr Daneshvar Research
 
Dr Daniel Daneshvar
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YF2omqkAAAAJ&hl=en 
Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at death in National Football League players: retrospective population-based cohort study, 2008-21 : https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100418

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Dr Buckland is Head of the Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He founded and directs the Australian Sports Brain Bank, established in 2018, which has since become a leading centre for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He is also a co-founder of Brainstorm, a brain cancer research initiative at RPA, and leads research across gliomas, neurodegenerative diseases and molecular neuropathology.

01:17 – Dr Buckland’s Journey Neuropathology and What is Neuropathology
04:25 - Concussion, repetitive head impact
07:50 – What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
10:20 – How is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Diagnosed 
13:00 – Separating Different Types of Neurodegenerative Disease 
16:54 – Does Response Relationship 
19:00 -Brain Donation and Difficulties in Approaching Donations
23:00 – Brainstorm and Cancer
 
Google Schoolar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A4mEg3QAAAAJ&hl=en
Australian Sports Brain Bank: https://brainbank.org.au
BrainStorm: https://brainbenefit.org/causes/brainstorm-at-rpa/
 
 
Twitter: @first concussion
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Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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Dr. Wolf is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the founder of Healing Response Acupuncture & Functional Neurology in Stillwater, Minnesota. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she specialises in neurological acupuncture, post-concussion syndrome, and traumatic brain injury recovery. Her approach combines functional neurology and applied clinical neuroscience, supported by post-doctoral training at the Carrick Institute, where she serves as an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine.
Dr. Wolf has also worked as a team acupuncturist for UFC and Legacy fighters at Fortis MMA in Dallas. She is the host of Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast and the author of The Art of Concussion Recovery and The Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces to Recovery.

01:40 - Journey from Acupuncture to Concussion Care 
08:50 – Concussion, What It Means in and Functional Assessments in Dr Wolf’s Clinic 
16:30 – Where it Fits in Concussion
23:00 – Clinical Approach on Female Population
29:20 – Acupuncture Needles Gauge Explained
31:15 – Dr Wolf’s Books
40:30 - Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast
48:00 – Where to Find Dr Wolf

Dr Ayla Wolf
https://lifeafterimpact.com/podcast
https://acupunctureneurology.com/about
IG: @lifeafterimpact
FB: https://www.facebook.com/amy.ayla.wolf/

 
Twitter: @first concussion
Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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Paul captained the Socceroos throughout the 1990s, earning 84 caps and playing 345 National Soccer League games for clubs including Croydon, Green Gully, Brunswick and South Melbourne. He led Australia from 1990 to 1996, including at the Olympics and through two World Cup qualifying campaigns, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
More recently, Paul has bravely spoken publicly about his diagnosis of probable CTE, linked to repeated head impacts throughout his career, using his experience to advocate for better brain health protections in football.
 
01:40 - Paul's Journey into football
04:05 - Football at Barnsley
06:00 – How Paul and Val Met
08:30 – Diagnosis of Probable CTE
11:30 – Process of Diagnosis
19:40 – Perspective of a Diagnosis and Day to Day life
24:30 – Impact on Work
27:20 – Paul’s Epilepsy 
30:30 – Advocacy, Training with Probable CTE
39:25 – Pauls Favourite Footballing Moments
43:00 – Old National Soccer League/ NLS Day’s
44:50 – Val’s Favourite Moments 
47:07 – Find Paul/ Support 
49:10 – Dad Joke’s
                                                        
 
Paul Wade Life Skills: www.paulwade.com.au
Epilepsy Action Australia / Paul Wade: www.epilepsy.org.au
Dr Rowena Mobbs: www.rowena.mobbs.com.au
ConneCTErs Australia: www.connecters.org.au
Twitter: @first concussion
Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com