Exploring the lasting effects of concussion

The latest Research Tuesdays event, Concussion: lasting impact, will share recent findings around the long-term effects of head injuries. 

Associate Professor Lyndsey Collins-Praino, of the Cognition, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Lab in the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide, said outcomes for people who experience a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often uncertain. 

“A concussion can inflict lasting cognitive changes and even elevate your chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease or dementia,” said Associate Professor Collins-Praino. 

“We know about 90 per cent of people recover fully (after an injury or concussion), but about 10 per cent experience long-lasting impairments which can affect their motor function, cognition, and mood, among other changes.” 

As part of her research, Associate Professor Collins-Praino is investigating risk factors which could be used to predict patient outcomes. 

“Right now, it can be difficult for a medical professional to know what an individual’s trajectory after concussion or more serious brain injury looks like,” she said. 

“We are working at identifying changes in the brain, as well as potential early warning signs like loss of smell and particular sleep disturbances, that could set the stage for the later emergence of neurodegenerative disease. 

“Our hope is that, by doing so, we can better identify people who have an increased risk, in order to improve monitoring post-injury or involve them in trials focused on prevention.” 

“Our hope is that, by doing so, we can better identify people who have an increased risk, in order to improve monitoring post-injury or involve them in trials focused on prevention.” Associate Professor Lyndsey Collins-Praino, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide.

Associate Professor Collins-Praino will present her most recent discoveries at today’s Research Tuesdays event, 9 April. 

She is also calling for another 400 people who have ever experienced a concussion or more serious TBI for the ground-breaking study, FIND-TBI.  

Participants will take part in at least two sessions. 

The first will consist of a series of cognitive and motor tests, as well as several questionnaires to provide information about the injury and other lifestyle variables. 

Participants will have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan at the Clinical Research Imaging Centre at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and provide blood and saliva samples for biomarker analysis in the second session. 

A select subgroup will also participate in the third session, which will involve a PET (positron emission tomography) scan, using a tracer to look at changes in inflammation within an individual’s brain. 

To register your interest in the study, visit http://borrowmybrain.org/tbi. 

Speaker 

Associate Professor Lyndsey Collins-Praino leads the Cognition, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Lab in the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide. She is a 2016 South Australia Tall Poppy and has obtained more than $8 million in competitive research funding over the past five years alone, including grants from the Medical Research Future Fund, Australian Research Council and multiple philanthropic bodies. 

The Research Tuesdays lecture series is very popular and tickets are limited, so registration is required; it will also be streamed online. 

When 

Tuesday, 9 April. 5.30-6.30pm. 

Where 

The Braggs Building, North Terrace campus, The University of Adelaide 

Tickets 

Click here to reserve an in-person ticket / Click here to register for the online webinar.