In this forum preliminary findings, and content will be shared that build on the need for a paradigm shift to address *Acquired Brain Injury Syndromes in melanin dominant humans, particularly among male athletes, and women in abusive relationships. Select ABI topics will be extracted to highlight how the lack of resources allocated foster systematic neglect of these select groups. The relevance of more insidious forms of brain injury that may be masked by denial, undiagnosed depression, and maladaptive behaviors will be addressed to shed light on disparities in the identification of the spectrum of impairments. The gross insensitivity to invest in culturally aligned evidence-based intervention practices for these populations will be highlighted. This presentation will expound on the benefits of transparency to optimize brain health and foster more cost-effective use of resources as we open “Pandora’s Box” to view disparities in healthcare delivery. The cumulative outcome and consequences of marginalization, and the systematic neglect in the identification of chronic brain trauma on total health will be discussed.

Niyana is a graduate of HBCUs exclusively; NC A&T State University, and a recipient of a master’s degree from Fisk University & Meharry Medical College joint program in clinical psychology. He earned a doctoral degree at Howard University in psychobiology/neuropsychology via biomedical research grants and a danforth-compton scholarship. He taught at Northern Virginia Community College, there he maintained class rotations in psychology at the U.S. Pentagon and Henderson Hall. Current research interests are (mTBI) chronic concussion syndromes (sequelae post axonal shearing), neuroplasticity, orthomolecular interventions in mental health conditions, and ‘brain-fog’ post COVID-19 recovery, as well as a spectrum of interests, which include undiagnosed PTSD (akin to ‘learned Helplessness’), racism, domestic terrorism, and the influence of ancient history on perceptions of human inter-connectedness, and crossing-over – “death.” He has authored two books that build on social neuroscience, “Reality check: A manual for the hue-man octahedron & the mystery of melanin, and the awakening: OMG the president is black”. In addition, he is on the editorial board of the journal of mental health and social behaviour, and a board certified fellow & diplomate in African centered-black psychology. He continues to be an invited guest on podcasts that address brain health, identity and the “System of racism and white supremacy.” His collective work experiences focus on clinical interventions and teaching designed to lift the smog of brain fog perpetuated by the virus of global racism embedded in every theme that aligns science with eurocentric thought. Currently, he is an associate professor of psychology at the University of the District of Columbia