New Biomarker Could be Used for Concussion Treatment
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyer. Because of the attention that accidents and professional sports have brought to the world of concussions, a significant amount of funding has been poured into this area of research. Fortunately, this funding is starting to show fruit, particularly with a recent research study on biomarkers. A new discovery could change the way that concussions are diagnosed, monitored, and treatment that could mean an increase in the quality of life of patients everywhere.
A Novel Approach for a Crisis
Concussions aren’t just limited to professional sports but have an impact at the youth level as well. The number of athletes developing symptoms due to traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, constitutes a national crisis. A recent study out of Northwestern University has revealed that concussions could be correlated to the brain’s ability to process sound. If this can improve the way that concussions are diagnosed, it could help to alleviate the physical, emotional, and social impacts that are altering the quality of life of patients everywhere. To date, there is not a test in the medical field that has shown the ability to efficiently and reliably diagnose concussions in an objective manner.
A New Biomarker
The study out of Northwestern took a group of children and analyzed the frequency of brain waves following their exposure to sound. The study had two different groups of patients. One group had developed concussions, a common type of traumatic brain injury in children. The other group had not suffered a concussion or any other traumatic brain injury. Researchers realized that the two different groups were responding to sound stimulus markedly differently. Furthermore, they were able to analyze this response using sensors that were placed on the heads of their patients. These sensors detect the frequency of brain waves when the patients were exposed to sound. By analyzing the differences in the brain waves between the two treatment groups, the study was able to differentiate the patients who had suffered concussions from those who had not with over 90 percent accuracy.
Future Directions
Without a doubt, traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, can have marked impacts on patients and their families. In addition to comorbidities such as long-term psychiatric and mental health implications, those who suffer concussions can be forced to miss school, sports, or work for an extended period of time. Many of these problems could be avoided if patients were diagnosed with concussions at an earlier point in time. While this method still warrants further study, an increased ability to accurately diagnose concussions could prove to be life-changing for patients and professionals in the medical field.
Follow this link for more Brain Injury topics by Edward A Smith ~
- The Attorney’s Guide to Traumatic Brain Injuries
- The Home Concussion Test
- Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Contact an Experienced Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Attorney. The ability to accurately diagnose concussions quickly has been a major focus of medical research for an extended period of time. Any patient who has suffered a concussion, or any other neurological injury after an accident caused by another person’s negligence, may call me at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice. Patients who are trying to reach me from outside of the greater Sacramento area should know that I have a toll-free line, available at (800) 404-5400. When you reach me by telephone, I will be happy to go over the details of your accident and injury case and together we can determine if it makes sense to file a claim for your damages.
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