Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation and Concussions

Southern Methodist University79 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to understand how biochemical markers in blood, balance disturbances, and cognitive performance are related to brain blood flow changes after a concussion.

Comparisons will be made between control data and data following a concussion collected from athletes participating in contact-collision sports. For those suffering a concussion, comparisons will be made between day 3 (acute phase), day 21 (recovery phase), and 3 months post-concussion.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Brain Concussion Post-Concussion Syndrome

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Student athletes actively participating in collegiate sports. Subjects should be wiling to provide informed consent for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants who are unable to play as a result of injury. Presence of irregular heart beat.

Locations (1)

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Cerebral blood flow regulation

Subject's cerebral blood flow regulation (cm/sec) at rest, during a cognitive test, and during a breathing test will be measured.

Time frame: Change in Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, and 3 months post concussion

Secondary Outcomes

Blood Biomarkers

Subjects will have their blood drawn so investigators can look at biomarkers in their blood. The biomarkers will be Tau, a-Spectrin N-Terminal Fragment, Neuron-specific enolase, Ubiquitin C-Terminal hydrolase L1, S100B, and Glial fibrillary acidic protein.