Grant: Project Grant

80-90% of head injuries are mild and comprise most hospital admissions for head trauma. Many mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are missed and an objective way to diagnose a mTBI and measure its severity and recovery is needed. Brain damage can occur in mTBI, but often the neurological and radiological results are normal. Yet, patients express cognitive (e.g., attention, memory), somatic (e.g., headache, fatigue) and/or affective complaints (e.g., depression). Most studies report recovery from an mTBI within 3 months after injury; however, 15-25% of individuals have persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) that interfere with their daily activities. Early identification of patients at the risk of persistent PCS is crucial but challenging and more empirical knowledge is needed. Research from our laboratory has consistently demonstrated that concussed athletes display an abnormal level of brain activation in the prefrontal regions, which is correlated with memory impairments. This aberrant brain activation can be predictive of symptom resolution, but it remains unclear what its mechanism is. Using novel magnetic resonance imaging methods, we will assess changes in brain anatomy and function in university athletes who have suffered a mild TBI or concussion and link these changes to their post-concussive symptoms. We will also follow mTBI patients over time to identify neuroimaging features predictive of persistent PCS.