Sport-Related Head Trauma Salivary Biobank
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enMason research could change the way concussions are diagnosed
/news/2021-07/mason-research-could-change-way-concussions-are-diagnosed
<span>Mason research could change the way concussions are diagnosed</span>
<span><span>Colleen Rich</span></span>
<span><time datetime="2021-07-01T10:54:19-04:00" title="Thursday, July 1, 2021 - 10:54">Thu, 07/01/2021 - 10:54</time>
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<div class="field__item"><p><span><span><span>Two research professors at 海角社区, in collaboration with global partners, have discovered the same protein biomarkers in the saliva of youth and collegiate athletes who have experienced concussive and sub-concussive impacts.</span></span></span></p>
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<div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2021-07/New%20Caswell%20photo%20%282%29.jpg" width="350" height="469" loading="lazy">
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<figcaption>Shane Caswell</figcaption>
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<p><span><span><span>The findings, if validated in larger, independent studies, could be used to develop a new, rapid, noninvasive, saliva-based test for concussion diagnosis and management, as well as a way to monitor changes to the brain following exposure to repetitive sub-concussive impacts.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>The study, conducted by Mason professor of athletic training </span><a href="https://cehd.gmu.edu/people/faculty/scaswell/"><span>Shane Caswell</span></a><span> and University Professor </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/emanuel-petricoin"><span>Emanuel Petricoin</span></a><span>, was recently published in the </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33858214/"><span>Journal of Neurotrauma</span></a><span>.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>鈥淪alivary biomarker research can, hopefully, enhance already existing tools that diagnose concussions, as well as track brain health over time,鈥� said Caswell, one of the study鈥檚 lead researchers and executive director of Mason鈥檚 </span><a href="https://smartlab.gmu.edu/"><span>Sports Medicine Assessment, Research, and Testing (SMART) Laboratory</span></a><span>. 鈥淭his is valuable, not only in all levels of sports, but also in military settings.鈥�</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Concussion and repeated sub-concussive impacts, which are blows to the head that do not produce immediate symptoms, could have long-term adverse health consequences if athletes return to contact activity too soon.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Concussion management currently relies on subjective measures to inform clinical judgement. New strides have been made recently, such as a handheld blood test developed by Abbott Laboratories to diagnose concussions. But there continues to be limited understanding of how repeated sub-concussive impacts, that frequently do not cause concussion symptoms, affect the brain.</span></span></span></p>
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<figcaption>Emanuel Petricoin</figcaption>
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<p><span><span><span>鈥淭here is a need for nonsubjective, diagnostic measures to be able to assess someone鈥檚 traumatic brain injury level, either in a concussed or sub-concussed state,鈥� said Petricoin, co-director of Mason鈥檚 </span><a href="http://capmm.gmu.edu/"><span>Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM)</span></a><span>. 鈥淭his is important for health care providers so that they can make accurate medical judgements.鈥�</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>Mason鈥檚 research identified antibodies in saliva that target proteins such as HTR1A, SRRM4, and FAS, which are known to play a role in brain physiology and function. Their presence correlates with concussions and how many hits and athlete sustained during a season of play.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>Compared to healthy athletes, individuals who were diagnosed with a concussion, or who suffered high exposure to sub-concussive impacts, showed an elevation of the same salivary biomarkers. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>The research team worked with youth, high school, and collegiate athletic teams and their medical staffs across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, to collect saliva to create a Sport-Related Head Trauma Salivary Biobank. This first-of-its-kind biobank contains saliva collected from healthy athletes, athletes diagnosed with concussions, and athletes who sustained repetitive sub-concussive impacts. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>Sensors worn by the athletes measured the number and severity of hits. Collected saliva was tested using a Mason-developed nanoparticle technology. Analysis was completed by researchers at the </span></span><a href="https://www.kth.se/en"><span><span>KTH Royal Institute of Technology</span></span></a><span><span> in Stockholm, Sweden, which is a leader in the world of autoimmunity research.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span>鈥淥nce someone has experienced a concussion, it is hard to know when they are fully healed from it, meaning it may take less of an impact for a second concussion to occur,鈥� Petricoin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to study concussion biomarkers in youth because growing evidence suggests that if we can monitor head impacts more effectively, it will support their long-term health.鈥�</span></span></span></span></p>
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<h2>Topics</h2>
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<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div>
<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4856" hreflang="en">SMART Lab</a></div>
<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/286" hreflang="en">Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM)</a></div>
<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div>
<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/191" hreflang="en">College of Education and Human Development</a></div>
<div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7821" hreflang="en">Sport-Related Head Trauma Salivary Biobank</a></div>
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Thu, 01 Jul 2021 14:54:19 +0000Colleen Rich46531 at