A football player sustains a diffuse axonal injury during a game. Which metabolic shift primarily explains the prolonged cognitive dysfunction following the initial impact?

💡 Explanation

Impaired mitochondrial energy production causes a metabolic crisis following diffuse axonal injury because damaged axons struggle to maintain ion gradients. This leads to neuronal dysfunction and cognitive deficits; therefore, energy impairment explains prolonged dysfunction, rather than increased blood flow or efficient glutamate reuptake.

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