Ontario Brain Injury: Pilot Project on Imaging of Concussions
Concussions are traumatic brain injuries sustained when the head hits an object or a moving object strikes the head or another part of the body. The long term effects of repeated concussions are not well understood, but evidence suggests that multiple concussions can give rise to brain degeneration although there is considerable effort in many centres to discover a useful and reliable imaging biomarker for concussion; none have been firmly established, although there are some very promising prospects. This issue is of major importance because of the high prevalence of concussions and the current difficulties in recognition and management of concussion of all causes and in all age groups. Two powerful MRI modalities for imaging the brain - diffusion tensor imaging (DTI); and Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) imaging are being used to evaluate effective biomarkers for examining the effects of repetitive concussions on the brain. The correlation between the biomarkers and clinical, neurological and neuropsychological deficits is being assessed.
Research Team:
Principle Investigator
- Charles H. Tator, CM, MD, PhD, FRCSC
Co-Investigators
- Carol DeMatteo, OT, MSc
- Sheila Singh, MD FRCS(C), PhD
- Michael Noseworthy, PhD, PEng
- Erin Warriner, CPsych
Funder
