Concussion Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Concussion Clinical Trials?

In medical terms, a concussion is described as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) that affects brain function. A jolt, blow or bump that causes sudden head movement can lead to a concussion. This impact will cause the brain to move around, inducing chemical changes and possibly damaging the brain cells.

Signs of a concussion include dizziness, nausea, headache, and fatigue. While these are early-onset symptoms, serious complications from concussions can go unnoticed and surface days and weeks later. This mandates the need for proper medical care and treatment after suffering a concussion.

There are approximately 1.6 to 3.8 million sports and recreational concussions in the U.S. every year. While most medical experts believe concussions aren’t fatal, according to CDC, the effects of a concussion can be grave. It is usually easy to recover from a concussion, but unknown and hence untreated concussions can cause severe injury or even death.

Concussion clinical trials evaluate new tools and methods to properly diagnose and clinically manage concussions, increasing the chances of complete recovery.

Why is Concussion Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Concussions need to be the center for research as many cases of concussion go unnoticed and fail to receive proper medical intervention. In rare events, concussions can cause a hematoma, a collection of blood on the brain, which can be fatal.

Repeated concussions can delay recovery and cause severe long-term complications, including cognitive impairment and problems with balance and coordination. There are several sports-related concussions in the U.S., incurring high healthcare costs. A single concussion costs $800.10, and that’s the direct healthcare expense. This is an increasing economic burden on the country.

Concussion clinical trials test tools and interventions to produce improved patient outcomes. They are crucial to minimizing the chances of serious complications resulting from a concussion, thereby reducing healthcare costs.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available for Concussions?

Different treatments may be used depending on the severity of the concussion.

• Physical and brain rest
• Break from sports and strenuous activity
• Drinking plenty of water
• Alcohol abstinence till recovery
• Pain relief medication like acetaminophen (Doctors advise not to take blood thinners like aspirin as they may increase bleeding

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Concussions?

There have been several landmark studies involving TBI in recent years. Some of the most recent studies on concussions are:

2023: Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to Repetitive Head Impacts and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy-The study by world-leading experts establishes a causal link between Repetitive head impacts (RHI) like concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This research has helped make sports organizations more aware of taking CTE prevention actions after head impact incidents.

2017: Long-Term Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Consequences of Repetitive Concussion and Head-Impact Exposure- The study establishes the short-term and long-term neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive effects of repeated concussions. This calls for measures for the improved safety of athletes, given the potential seriousness of concussions, which often go ignored.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Leaders / Researchers / Institutions Conducting Concussion Clinical Trials Research?

Complete Concussion facilitates research about concussions to develop better treatments and interventions for patients.

Brain Injury Research Institute (BIRI) conducts medical research on neurological disorders, including mild traumatic brain injuries like concussions.