CONCUSSION SERIOUSNESS TEST – MINNESOTA AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY LAWYERS
Medical News Today recently published an article about a new concussion study. The study linked higher blood levels of a brain protein called ‘tau’ to longer periods of recovery for athletes. The researchers suggest that tau may serve as a marker to help assess athletes’ readiness to return to play. Our MN auto accident lawyers have suggested this when our clients discuss a concussion diagnosis with their doctor. Concussion after a car accident is a frequent symptom for our clients.
The researchers – including members from the University of Rochester School Medical Center (URMC) in New York – report their findings in the journal Neurology.
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is an injury that results either directly from a blow or jolt to the head, or indirectly from a strike to the body. That causes the head and brain to move back and forth rapidly.
As the sudden movement shakes the brain inside the skull, it can stretch or damage brain cells and disrupt brain chemistry. Clinicians often describe concussion as a mild form of TBI because it is not typically life-threatening. However, the effects can be serious. Jeffrey Bazarian, professor of Emergency Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at URMC, explains that there are currently no biomarkers for predicting recovery. Likewise, with an auto accident concussion injury, there is no test to determine when a victim is back to normal. This is something that is important as our top attorneys try to settle our MN car accident cases.
Tau is linked to brain damage
In their paper, the researchers describe a serious brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is linked to playing contact sports with repeated head trauma. One of the hallmarks of CTE is the presence of an altered brain protein called tau and its accumulation into neurofibrillary tangles. This is also found in other brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers note that tau is also linked to brain cell damage following TBI and to sport-related concussions.
For the new study, the team evaluated changes in blood tau levels in 46 concussed college athletes. The athletes were Division I and III college players of soccer, football, basketball, hockey, and lacrosse. Although not the same as a concussion injury, there are obviously comparable lessons that can be learned. Levels of the athletes’ blood tau were measured from pre-season blood samples and again within 6 hours following concussion.
HOW SERIOUS WILL HEAD INJURY BE
The researchers used an ultra-sensitive technology that can detect single protein molecules. The researchers divided the athletes into two groups based on their recovery time. One group, the long return-to-play group, took more than 10 days to recover following concussion. The other group, the short return-to-play group, took under 10 days to go back to playing their sport. The results showed that the athletes in the long return-to-play group had higher levels of blood tau 6 hours after concussion, compared with the short return-to-play group.
The long return-to-play group also showed a bigger jump from pre-season blood tau levels to the post-concussion levels, compared with their short return-to-play counterparts. Using statistical tools, the researchers showed that higher levels of blood tau 6 hours after concussion consistently predicted that athletes would take more than 10 days to return to play.
The results also showed differences between men and women. For instance, female athletes made up 61 percent of the long return-to-play group but only 28 percent of the short return-to-play group. This came as no surprise to the researchers; it is well established that female athletes take longer to recover after concussion than males. Again, this is information that might be useful in evaluating a car accident concussion patient as well.
REST NEEDED AFTER CONCUSSION INJURY
Prof. Bazarian notes that athletes are often keen to return to play as soon as possible. Therefore, they may tell their doctors they are better when they are not. He concludes: ‘It may be that tau combined with current clinical assessments could help us make more informed return-to-play decisions.’ Our Minnesota auto accident lawyers face similar dilemmas with our brain injury clients; it is hard to know when it is appropriate to return to work after a concussion accident.
CAR ACCIDENT CONCUSSION MN ATTORNEY PAM ROCHLIN
If you or a family member have sustained a concussion injury in a car accident in Minnesota, call our office for a free consultation with a best auto accident lawyer. Pam Rochlin and David Rochlin have more than 25 years’ experience. We represent people injured in an auto accident who suffered a concussion or TBI injury. We have offices where our lawyers can meet you in Minneapolis, Edina, Woodbury, and St. Louis Park. Our car accident attorneys also make house-calls to St. Paul MN, Roseville, St. Cloud MN, Burnsville, Plymouth, Chaska, Chanhassen and other cities throughout Minnesota. Our primary focus is on getting you the compensation you are entitled to so you can get on with your life.