Radiographers could soon diagnose concussion brain injury
Monday 6th December 2010
Experts in radiography jobs could soon find themselves involved in the diagnosis of brain injury in concussion patients, following the adoption of a new measuring technique.
Scientists from the Harvard University Brigham and Women's Hospital have discovered higher levels of glutamate and choline chemicals in the brains of athletes that suffered repetitive head trauma, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Lead author Alexander Lin explained: "[Increased] choline is a marker for damaged tissue and glutamate is neurotoxic at high levels, something we think could be the result of repetitive head injuries.
"We are trying to understand what role they play in the physiology of [brain trauma]."
Researchers are hopeful that the diagnostic method, which is still in its very early stages of development, could eventually be used to establish a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which has previously only been diagnosable when patients have died.
Research published last month by scientists at the John Hopkins Children's Center suggested that the level of protein found in the blood can be an indicator of brain injury in children on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Written by James Puckle
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