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Brain activation study helps to diagnose concussions in children and youths

Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, at McGill University and the MUHC, are working to develop a much needed tool for helping diagnose concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries suffered by thousands of young Canadians -hockey and football players among them. Post-concussion symptoms can include physical ailments, emotional disturbances and sleep disruption. Objective methods for predicting how severely mild brain trauma can affect a young person鈥檚 brain are sorely needed. The potential for harmful effects is especially real in the case of children and youths - with the higher threat of repeated injury and cumulative effects of concussions (and links to other serious neurological illnesses) - accurate diagnosis and proper follow-up is essential.

鈥淐urrent diagnostic tools are not sensitive enough for detecting subtle abnormalities following concussion or for measuring its severity. As a result, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis are difficult,鈥� says Dr. Rajeet Singh Saluja, a neurosurgeon and the study鈥檚 first author working under the guidance of Dr. Alain Ptito, a neuropsychologist whose laboratory is at The Neuro. 鈥淥ur study provides valuable data for creating a tool to help diagnose concussions objectively and thus aid in assessing recovery.鈥�

In recent years it has become evident that spatial memory (positions of objects in space) and route learning (spatial memory navigation) may be impaired in adults with concussion. Until now however, there have been no studies examining spatial navigational memory in children with concussion.

Fifty adolescents-15 subjects with concussion and 35 controls-participated in the study. In addition to standard neuropsychological testing given to concussion victims, a navigational memory test was administered in which the adolescents had to orient themselves in a virtual reality neighbourhood. During this test, the subjects were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure their brain activity while carrying out the task.

鈥淪tandard neuropsychological tests showed no significant differences between concussed and control subjects,鈥� say Drs. Saluja and Ptito. 鈥淏ut during the navigational memory task, certain parts of the brains of subjects with concussion showed altered activation patterns, either diminished or increased activity. We still need to know whether the activation patterns later return to normal or remain permanently altered, but this could provide the basis of a robust diagnostic test for children suffering from concussions and aid in evaluating recovery.鈥�

The study concludes that the spatial memory task has the potential to be used as an fMRI diagnostic test of a suspected concussion victim and help to make the decision whether to return to activities.

This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a Frank Litvack Fellowship for Clinician Scientists from the Litvack Family Foundation, and the Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec - Sant茅. The study is published in the Journal of Neurotrauma (fast track online ahead of print Feb 25, 2015):

The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital

The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital 鈥� The Neuro, is a unique academic medical centre dedicated to neuroscience. Founded in 1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, The Neuro is recognized internationally for integrating research, compassionate patient care and advanced training, all key to advances in science and medicine. The Neuro is a research and teaching institute of McGill University and forms the basis for the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. Neuro researchers are world leaders in cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. For more information, visit