Does gender affect recovery from concussions?

The study found that females performed significantly worse than males on tests of reaction time. Females were also significantly more symptomatic than males. Additionally, there was a trend, although not significant, towards females testing poorly regarding verbal memory and processing speed when compared to males.

Soccer players with a history of concussion performed significantly worse on verbal memory testing after another concussion, the study found.

"There's a theory that males typically have a stronger neck and torso that can handle forces better," said Dr. Colvin. "But when we accounted for Body Mass Index in this study, we still found a difference between males and females. Therefore, there are differences in recovery between genders that cannot simply be attributed to size difference. More studies are needed to determine the reason for differences in recovery between males and females."

The new research was consistent with the results of an earlier study which found that girls took much longer than boys for post-concussion signs and symptoms to clear and to return to play. The 2011 study  found no difference in the number of symptoms reported between male and female athletes, no difference in the time symptoms took to resolve (most reported resolution of their symptoms within 3 days of injury) or in the time it took for girls and boys to return to play (median time for RTP was 3 to 6 days).  The one difference: girls reported symptoms more subtle and easily missed or attributed to causes other than concussion than those of boys.

http://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/gender-and-concussion-history-affect-recovery-study-finds