"How Do We Know If It Was the Concussion That Caused It?"
Presenter: Joshua Goldenberg, ND
Original Date: June 9, 2024
Concussions, a form of traumatic brain injury, have long been associated with a myriad of post-injury sequelae affecting various aspects of human health and functionality. The precise causation and extent of such consequences, ranging from vision impairments, balance and cognitive deficits to more severe outcomes like dementia, convergence insufficiency, seizures, and neuroendocrine disorders, remain areas of significant research interest and debate. Utilizing a forensic epidemiology approach, we endeavor to unpack the causative relationships between concussions and their long-term effects. Central to our discussion is the methodological framework of causation analysis, a tool pivotal in distinguishing between correlation and causation in post-concussion outcomes. By examining the epidemiological evidence, we aim to shed light on how certain sequelae can be directly attributed to concussive events, thereby providing clarity in a field often muddled by confounding factors. A particular focus of the presentation is on post-traumatic epilepsy, a condition that exemplifies the challenges in establishing a direct causal link between concussive brain injury and subsequent neurological disorders. We will share the results of our ongoing research in this area.
Bio: Dr. Goldenberg is a researcher, teacher, naturopathic doctor and founder of Dr. Journal Club, LLC. He is most passionate about the interplay of evidence and clinical practice.
Dr. Goldenberg is an active researcher with numerous publications in high impact scientific journals such as JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine and The Cochrane Library. His research focus includes irritable bowel syndrome, probiotics, evidence-informed practice, and research methodology. He is Research Investigator at the Helfgott Research Institute and Visiting Research Scholar at the University of Technology Sydney. He has presented nationally and internationally on evidence-based medicine as well as probiotics and research methodology. His probiotics work has been highlighted by the BBC, The New York Times, The Seattle Times, Prevention Magazine, and Fox News.
Dr. Goldenberg is a passionate educator and is faculty for the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine’s Interprofessional Fellowship in Integrative Health and Medicine, where he teaches critical evaluation of the literature and evidence-informed practice. He is past adjunct faculty at Bastyr University, his alma mater, in which he enrolled after receiving honors and distinction in molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania. He also guest lectures widely.
As a naturopathic doctor Dr. Goldenberg focuses on integrative approaches to irritable bowel syndrome as well as other gastrointestinal complaints working in concert with patients’ conventional gastroenterologists.
In 2014 Dr. Goldenberg created the medical education website www.DrJournalClub.com in order to share his passion for the interplay of evidence and clinical practice with the larger integrative medicine community.
NUNM is accredited by the North American Naturopathic Continuing Education Council (NANCEAC). This activity qualifies for 1.5 General CEUs.