Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Concussion and traumatic brain injury in the U.S.- Statistics & Facts
A survey of U.S. adults from 2025 found that 29 percent had at some point been knocked out or lost consciousness, been dazed or confused, or had a gap in their memory after being hit in the head. It is very likely that these people suffered a concussion or brain injury. Concussion occurs when the head or body is hit or shaken hard enough that it moves and injures the brain. A concussion is also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and is the most common type of such injuries. Symptoms of concussion include, but are not limited to, headache, nausea, difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly, and dizziness. In more extreme cases concussion can cause one to lose consciousness, and repeated concussions can lead to long-term problems affecting speech, learning, and memory, however, most people fully recover from concussions given rest and time. Despite how common and serious concussions and brain injuries can be only around 70 percent of U.S. adults report being somewhat familiar or very familiar with concussions, while just over half report being familiar with brain injuries.
