Why does increased cerebral blood flow immediately after a concussion paradoxically exacerbate neuronal damage, despite appearing beneficial?

💡 Explanation

Increased cerebral blood flow post-concussion delivers more calcium to already damaged mitochondria, exacerbating neuronal injury due to shear strain. This occurs because strain mechanically disrupts mitochondrial calcium handling, leading to calcium overload and cell death. Therefore, increased flow worsens the situation, rather than aiding recovery as it might in other contexts.

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