UPEI seeks volunteers for research that aims to improve concussion diagnosis

A new study underway at UPEI's Health-Centered Research Clinic aims to help improve concussion diagnosis through blood work.

Researchers at the clinic say brain injuries can be hard to assess visually, but there's evidence that certain proteins in the blood are heightened when someone has had a concussion.

"We're trying to figure out if this protein could be a biomarker for telling us whether or not someone's had a concussion or how severe it is," said research associate Angela Riveroll.

"So that's why we want to associate or correlate the blood work and the measurement of the amount of this protein with the other standard tests, like things for balance and hearing."

Riveroll saidher team is hoping blood work might assist with determining whether someone is ready to return to workor sports. It's very difficult to say how severe a concussion is for when a person can return to their normal routine, she said.

"So we're just trying to develop tests that might help physicians when they're trying to make those decisions."

The group is looking for several types of individuals for the study:

• People who have never had a concussion.
• People who've had a concussionin the past 36 hours.
• People who've had concussion symptoms for more than three months,but fewerthan six.
• People who've had a bone fracture in the past 36 hours.
• Anyone who actively competes as a boxer.

They're hoping to find 20 participants for each group.

Anyone interested in participating in the study can call the clinic 902-566-0827 or email concussion@upei.ca.