Improving Knowledge and Care with a Groundbreaking Concussion Study.
The findings of the study will improve our understanding of the biology of concussion, help clinicians better identify patients at greater risk of longer-term effects, and support future research on enhanced care and early interventions.
In any health emergency, time is of the essence. When it comes to health research, time can be just as critical a factor. Recent concussion research supported by OBI through the Concussion Ontario Network (CONNECT) found that time is the differentiating factor.
Over 250,000 Canadians suffer a concussion every year. Despite how prevalent concussions are we still don’t fully understand what’s actually happening in the brain. The post-concussion experience can vary dramatically. Some effects can be temporary while others may be lifelong; some people recover in days while others suffer for years.
“By studying concussions soon after they occur, we are gathering missing pieces of information on concussion to gain a better overall understanding of the condition, and to better support patients at home, and in a clinical setting.”
CONNECT’s novel approach to studying concussions is based on quicker, more immediate study of the patient. It’s the first ultra-early post-concussion study of its kind in adults with non-sports related concussions. Information was gathered within hours of an acute concussion, allowing researchers to explore the immediate cellular changes to the brain. Researchers will now be able to investigate how these early changes correlate to patient-reported symptoms.
Better research means better outcomes. OBI’s support for researchers helps them bring this knowledge to light, and to share it with other researchers and clinicians to better care for those who suffer a concussion.
