Concussion / mTBI
mTBI BIOMARKER DISCOVERY
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a multi-billion-dollar health issue that has a major social impact on mental health, crime and unemployment. Even mild TBI can cause lasting consequences. Currently there are no non-invasive imaging methods that can detect mild TBI, and predict if the patient will make a rapid and full recovery or require extensive rehabilitation. The faster the condition is recognised, the sooner intervention can begin. MRI shows promise for detecting subtle brain changes in concussion/mTBI. Early identification through advanced imaging could result in significant health improvements. Finding a reliable and objective test for concussion will help to determine interventions and assess if and when people can safely return to normal routines and activities.
Mātai’s research could have potential for both understanding the fundamental causes of concussion and for better treatments, including improved protocols for the identification and management of concussion and for return to activity protocols. Such protocols could also include evidence backed mandatory stand-down periods in sports.
See additional detail on research underway by the Centre for Brain Research, Mātai and other collaborators Concussion Research 2020.
BRAIN INJURY MODELLING
Studies will involve advanced brain MRI scans of high-contact sports-players to construct individualised computational models that can be integrated into the kinematic sensors (designed to measure impact from brain injury/concussion). In collaboration with the University of Auckland, we will develop predictive neurological models that correlate mechanical damage with the extent of brain damage. Finding a reliable and objective test for concussion will help to determine when people can safely return to normal routine.
EYE-TRACKING RESEARCH
Research into changes in eye movements could help to diagnose severity of brain injury. We are teaming up with the Department of Ophthalmology (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences) at the University of Auckland, Axis Sports Clinic, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) to work on effective eye-tracking technology for diagnosing concussion. Mātai will be working on longitudinal studies with high-impact sports players, using MRI to measure structural changes resulting from impacts to the head which will help to evaluate the effectiveness of these devices.
ADVANCED MRI METHODS
Mātai will search for anomalies in the brain that could be indicators of brain injury. Once these biomarkers have been identified, this will help our understanding of brain damage and lead to better rehabilitation methods. Presently, MRI technology is promising, but not sufficiently developed to identify head injury biomarkers. Through further research into MRI software advancements being developed by Mātai, combined with biomechanical & computational modelling, and artificial intelligence, we will search for answers.
HEART RATE VARIABILITY
Heart rate variability (HRV) explores the information encoded in the beat to beat variations of the heart. It provides a doorway to explore the autonomic nervous system along with the response to emotional factors.
While requiring further exploration, HRV has been shown to be altered in mTBI patients, and has been used as a bio-feedback tool for improved emotional outcome measures.
Mātai’s researchers will explore HRV as a potential tool for concussion diagnosis and response to treatment.
RNA RESEARCH
Mātai and the Centre for Brain Research is involved in a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd — who have a novel method for sequencing RNA from body fluids to look for differences between those suffering a mild traumatic brain injury and those that are not. Through this collaborative effort, we will investigate whether RNA provides a rapid, non-invasive test to monitor recovery from mTBI.