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Blood Test Diagnoses Sports Brain Injury

Article
Brain & Nerve
Behavioral & Mental Health
+1
Contributed byMaulik P. Purohit MD MPHApr 17, 2017

A new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology shows that a protein found in the brain can be used to diagnose concussions. Hockey, football, boxing, and soccer, have all found themselves center-stage in the concussion epidemic. The attention started mainly when retired NFL players were subjected to CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy – a degenerative disease of the brain that includes symptoms of dementia, memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression-- and committed suicide.

"Concussions are a growing international problem," Henrik Zetterberg, of the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and lead author of the study, told Reuters. "The stakes for the individual athlete are high, and the list of players forced to quit with lifelong injury is getting ever longer."

When an individual is concussed, the nerve cells and glial cells in their brain are damaged, which can inhibit proper brain function for days, weeks, or even longer. Approximately 10- 15 percent of concussed still shows symptoms for more than a year after the initial injury. Continuous concussions without full recovery can lead to chronic damage to the brain.

In the Swedish study, the researchers analyzed 28 players from the Swedish Hockey League who received a sports-related concussion during the study period. After repeated blood testing, they found that concussed players had increased T-tau levels after concussion, compared with levels measured in the pre-season players.

The highest levels of T-tau protein occurred in the first hour after concussion. Though there was a decline in the levels 12 hours after the injury, they were still higher six days later.

The researchers believe that T-tau blood tests could be a reliable tool for diagnosing concussions and making informed decisions on when it is safe for a player to return to play. They write, “Future studies should address whether elevated plasma tau identifies athletes who have sustained multiple mild traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”

Additional Resource:

Blood Biomarkers for Brain Injury in Concussed Professional Ice Hockey Players

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Maulik P. Purohit MD MPH

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