Blood Protein Test May Help Diagnose Concussions

Doctors in Cleveland, Ohio are currently conducting a study on local college football players, testing their blood for a protein that could indicate they’ve sustained a concussion.  The blood samples are being screened to see if they contain a protein that's known to leak into the blood after sustaining a head injury.

If the study confirms the predictive value of the protein, it could lead to simple blood tests to confirm concussions.  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for more than 1 million emergency room visits each year throughout the US. 

 

The test could also help track the long-term effects of high-impact sports like football or boxing, and it could be valuable to the military, as soldiers often face head injuries caused by the pressure wave from bomb explosions.