A research conducted at the Center for Neuropsychology and Cognition, Universite de Montreal shows that concussions effect an athlete even 30 years later. Such athletes can show mental and physical decline even after 30 years. They are more susceptible to disorders like Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers studied former university athletes in the age group of 50 and 60 who had suffered concussions in the past. These athletes showed a noticeable depletion in mental and motor processes as compared to the ones who had not suffered any head injury in the past. 19 former athletes who had sustained concussion three decades ago were compared to 21 similarly aged former athletes with no history of concussion.

According Louis De Beaumont, a graduate student in neuropsychology who led the University of Montreal study some of the affected athletes could not even remember the grocery list. He said, "This study shows that the effects of sports concussions in early adulthood persist beyond 30 years post-concussion and that it can cause cognitive and motor function alterations as the athlete's age."

A concussion is a trauma injury to the brain caused due to a violent blow, shaking or spinning. This might lead the athlete to show confusion, loss of memory, headache, dizziness and sometimes loss of consciousness. The main cure for concussion is rest until symptoms disappear. This may also mean the cessation of play for the athlete for some time.