the best time to get the brain healthy is before it gets injured

My youngest got his first concussion at age 3.

After this interview, I’m wondering if another child of mine has some post-concussion symptoms that we never realized had to do with a knock on the head!

This interview is for parents of contact sport athletes FOR SURE but also anyone who wants to strengthen their family’s brain health.

What’s brain health? It’s the development of your kids’ brains, the avoidance of cognitive decline as we age (yes please!), and everyone’s mental health.

Here’s a little peek at what you’ll learn:

  • Why a brain after a concussion is a bit like a sprained ankle
  • How many patients are surprised that their daily symptoms end up being connected to an unresolved concussion in their past!
  • What modern conventional medicine gets wrong about concussions (spoiler: not much right at all!)
  • The worst possible thing to do (and the second worst) for concussion recovery
  • A shocking fact about the CT scan you’ll get in the ER after a concussion
  • Connections from brain health to mental health
  • A GOLDEN 30-second process you need to put your kids through at the beginning of every contact sport season (I’m going to start telling everyone this!)
  • How to make any exercise (and even cooking with kids!) into a brain exercise

Your science geek brain and your practical brain will be so happy to learn all this information! With kids, it feels like it’s not a matter of IF your family will experience a concussion, but WHEN. Be ready with knowledge, and start to build your family’s brain health NOW, because like Dr. Zimmerman says: “The stronger you go into something, the better you’ll be coming out of it.”

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Can’t see the video? Watch here on YouTube!

No time for the video? Here are the notes!

Building Strong, Healthy Brains Show Notes

0:21: Introduction: Why brain health matters for every family

  • Katie explains why this episode is for all parents—whether or not their child has had a concussion
  • Mental health, development, and even aging are all tied to brain function
  • Meet Dr. Zimmerman: nurse practitioner + chiropractor + author of Brain Reset

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Concussion Symptoms Parents Might Miss

2:41: His wife’s undiagnosed post-concussion syndrome

  • Symptoms like motion sickness and neck pain were dismissed as “normal” or “puberty”
  • Turns out, she had multiple concussions that were never properly evaluated

“90% of people still suffering from concussion symptoms don’t even know it’s from a concussion.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

6:03: Life with five homeschooled daughters and recurring head bumps

  • Minor incidents (like bumping into a stroller or monkey bars) can cause flares in someone with a history of concussions
  • You’re more vulnerable if prior concussions were never treated
  • Are concussions on the rise?

6:59: Why previously concussed brains are more sensitive

“It’s like a sprained ankle—once it’s weak, it takes less to re-injure it.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

Why Conventional Concussion Treatment Falls Short

8:15: What pediatricians typically say…and why it falls short

  • Most advice: “Give Tylenol. Rest. It’ll resolve in a week.”
  • No treatment, no follow-up, and no real plan

kids brain health playing sports quote

9:19: What to do the day your child has a concussion

  • Look for changes in behavior, mood, appetite, coordination
  • Gentle movement (like walking or stationary biking) is better than full sensory deprivation

“The research shows total rest actually prolongs recovery.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

12:21: Should your kid be on screens during recovery? No.

At-Home Concussion Recovery Tips for Parents

14:27: What you can do at home (and what not to DIY)

Finding the Right Concussion Treatment Provider

16:45: Who can treat concussions effectively?

  • Functional neurologists and functional medicine providers are ideal
  • Chiropractors and vestibular PTs may help, but not all are trained in concussion care
  • You may need a team—not just one provider

No matter what life throws at our kids, we need them to be resilient.

This free download will give you some practical and actionable steps to improve brain health and resilience.







18:29: Should you get a CT scan or MRI? Usually, no.

“A normal CT scan doesn’t mean your child is fine. It means there’s no bleed or fracture, but it tells you nothing about a concussion.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

Mental Health After Concussion: What Every Parent Needs to Know

22:07: Mental health and concussion: the overlooked connection

  • Concussions increase the risk of:
    • Anxiety and depression
    • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
    • Substance abuse
    • Hospitalization for mental health
    • Suicide

Recognizing Post-Concussion Syndrome in Kids and Teens

25:24: Red flags for post-concussion syndrome (even years later)

  • Fatigue, brain fog, memory issues, headaches
  • May start months or years after an incident
  • Concussions don’t always involve loss of consciousness

“If your child hasn’t been the same since a head injury, even a ‘minor’ one, it’s worth a deeper look.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

Preventing Concussions and Building Brain Resilience

29:19: Who the Brain Reset book is for

  • Not just for concussion recovery
  • Helps optimize brain health for kids, teens, adults, and aging parents
  • Applies to ADHD, long COVID, Parkinson’s, dementia, and more

30:26: How to support your child’s developing brain

  • Focus on nutrition (especially healthy fats like DHA and EPA in fish oil like Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil)
  • Get proactive before sports seasons or potential injuries

31:59: Quick brain tip from the book

  • Turn any exercise into a brain exercise:
  • Use balance challenges (like standing with one foot in front of the other)
  • Add novelty with resistance bands

34:42: Take a 10-second baseline video of your child’s balance (listen to this part if nothing else!!!)

  • Record before sports seasons
  • If a concussion occurs, you’ll have something to compare
  • No special tools or training needed

kids cooking helps brain health

Cooking, Creativity, and Brain Development in Kids

38:21: Cooking and brain development: yes, really!

  • Kids learn steps, sequences, measurements, and build resilience
  • Cooking reduces “nutrition resistance” later in life

Kids don’t need plastic knives. They need real skills.

Teach safe technique, focus, and confidence in the all-time fav lesson from our kids cooking class! (ages 2-12)






Or find out more about the free knife class here.

 

40:34: Parting encouragement from Dr. Zimmerman

“You can let your kids play sports. You just need the knowledge to make it safe.” – Dr. Spencer Zimmerman

  • You’re not powerless. You can prevent concussions, treat them well, and recover fully.

Resources We Mention for Building Strong, Healthy Brains

Dr. Spencer ZimmermanDr. Spencer Zimmerman helps individuals restore and optimize their brain function. His passion for integrative brain and body health comes from his spouses issues with post-concussion syndrome and gastrointestinal issues from a severe issue with gluten. His book Brain Reset: 7 Steps To a Healthier Brain is a best seller. He’s uniquely cross trained as both a Chiropractor and Nurse Practitioner. He’s a Diplomate in Chiropractic Neurology, a Peptide Certified Provider through A4M, training in Functional Medicine and Functional Immunology. He’s the owner of an integrative clinic in the Tampa Florida area called Peak Brain and Body.