“ Of the four million children who experience a concussion each year , 25-30 percent will have long-term symptoms and about half will never seek out medical care .”
Blood Protein Could Help Detect Delayed Concussion Recovery in Children
“ Of the four million children who experience a concussion each year , 25-30 percent will have long-term symptoms and about half will never seek out medical care .”
Researchers have discovered a blood protein that could help detect which children will experience ongoing concussion symptoms more than two weeks after an injury .
The research , led by Murdoch Children ’ s Research Institute ( MCRI ) and published in the Journal of Neurotrauma , found the protein was a potential biomarker for delayed recovery from concussion in children .
For the study , blood samples were collected from children , aged five-18 years , who presented to the emergency department at The
Royal Children ’ s Hospital less than 48 hours after a concussion .
Levels of the protein alpha-1-antichymotrypsin ( alpha-1-ACT ) were significantly lower in children with a delayed recovery .
MCRI researcher Ella Swaney said with concussion being a growing public health concern , there was an increasing need to develop a tool that could contribute to identifying those at risk of delays to recovery .
Of the four million children who experience a concussion each year , 25-30 per cent will have long-term symptoms and about half will never seek out medical care . Symptoms including headaches , difficulty remembering and sensitivity to light can last for months while mental health conditions can persist for several years .
“ Delayed recovery from concussion spans emotional , behavioral , physical and cognitive symptoms , which can affect the well-being of the child , delaying their return to school and sport ,” Ms Swaney said .
“ Early detection of children at risk of delayed recovery is crucial to ensure effective treatment and targeted follow-up .”
MCRI Professor Vicki Anderson said this small study , involving 80 children , was the first in human trial to identify that alpha-1-ACT could contribute to the early detection of those who will experience a delayed recovery from concussion .
“ If the finding holds up in larger studies , the discovery could contribute to acute clinical management by providing clinicians with an acute marker to guide more timely and targeted treatments to children most likely to experience long-term problems ,” she said . g
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