Grant: Project Grant

Sports concussion is a major public health concern. Even more alarmingly, recent findings show that repeated subconcussive head impacts in sports may also lead to long-term brain changes. Despite the prevalence of sports-related brain injuries, we still have very limited understanding of how the forces in head impacts result in brain trauma, and even less is known about how trauma accumulates through multiple impacts. In this study, we will instrument ice hockey athletes with wearable sensors to measure impact forces and accelerations, paired with assessments of their brain structure / function using imaging, neurocognitive, and blood testing at multiple time points across three seasons. Novel imaging techniques and blood biomarkers can identify subtle structural changes in the brain that are often missed in conventional brain imaging, and a sensitive neurocognitive test battery can help detect changes in brain function. With these data, we will investigate the mechanisms of acute and long-term trauma from concussions and subconcussive head impacts. Our findings may lead to novel diagnostic technologies for sports brain injury, inform return-to-play decisions, as well as identify the effects of repeated head impact exposure on brain structure and function. This will guide concussion management in sports, and inform rule changes to limit head impact exposure to a safe level.