Compositions and methods for mitigating a pathology following brain trauma or at least a portion of a cascade of a pathology associated therewith, including compositions and methods for treating concussion or preventing the onset of anecrotic cell death in neurons. Exemplary compositions for treating concussion include an active compound comprising one or more of: phenserine, a phenserine metabolite, a phenserine prodrug, or combinations thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The one or more excipients can be combined with the active compound to form an extended, controlled-release medicament that delivers a therapeutic concentration of the active compound over a period of time. Exemplary methods include administering a therapeutic dose of the active compound and, optionally, a therapeutically acceptable dose of a second active compound, and, optionally, maintaining the therapeutic doses of the active and optional second active compounds at therapeutically effective concentrations over a period of time.
