Experts in Birmingham are working to improve clinical treatment for sportspeople, military personnel and civilians who suffer concussion.
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often referred to as concussion, can result in long-term disability due to persistent headaches, imbalance, memory disturbance and poor mental health.
Concussions, which can be caused on the sports field, in accidents or shockwaves following blast exposure in military settings, have been declared a major global public health problem.
1.2m hospital visits a year in UK
Head injuries lead to more than 1.2 million hospital visits a year in the UK.
The University of Birmingham, which is leading the +£15m study, says around 30% of people suffering mTBIs have not returned to work or sport after 12 months – distressing for the individuals affected and costly for employers.
UoB’s study, called “mTBI-Predict,” has received £4m from the Ministry of Defence and up to $15.5m from the US Department for Defense.
“Prognostic biomarker algorithms”
It aims to develop “prognostic biomarker algorithms” to predict if someone is at risk of developing long-term complications after suffering concussion.
Teams are analysing biomarkers including saliva, blood, vision, balance, sleep and mental health to see whether they have a bearing on whether a concussion patient is more prone to further problems down the line.
It is hoped these new identifiers will enable clinicians to more accurately predict how long it may take civilians, military personnel and sportspeople to return to doing what they do after a concussion.
Chief Investigator, Professor Alex Sinclair, said: “It is hoped that the study will give us better tools for determining which concussion patients clinicians need to be more concerned about and can therefore trigger most appropriate care for each patient.”
Activity is taking place across the Midlands including MRI imaging taking place in Birmingham and Nottingham.
Experts from universities and institutions across the UK are supporting the study, including those from the University of Birmingham, Kings College London, Nottingham Trent University and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
“Promises to advance the clinical care of patients”
Patients taking part in the trial will be studied for six, 12 and 24 months following mTBIs to look for longer term complications.
Lt. Col. James Mitchell, Associate Director of mTBI-Predict and Lead UK Military TBI Service, Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, said: “This project is a cornerstone of the Ministry of Defence’s TBI Research strategy and promises to advance the clinical care of patients by bringing advanced technology into the clinic space for the first time.”
