Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation and Concussions

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to understand how biochemical markers in blood, balance disturbances, and cognitive performance are related to brain blood flow changes after a concussion.

Detailed Description
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Comparisons will be made between control data and data following a concussion collected from athletes participating in contact-collision sports. For those suffering a concussion, comparisons will be made between day 3 (acute phase), day 21 (recovery phase), and 3 months post-concussion.

Official Title
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Association Between Brain Blood Flow Regulation, Cognition, and Balance in Sports-Related Concussion

Conditions
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Brain Concussion, Post-Concussion Syndrome

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Student athletes actively participating in collegiate sports. Subjects should be wiling to provide informed consent for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Participants who are unable to play as a result of injury. Presence of irregular heart beat.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Control<br>Subjects who are collegiate level athletes who do not have a concussion and are currently playing a contact-collision sport. | |
| Concussed<br>Subjects who have recently suffered a sports-related concussion and are currently a collegiate athlete playing a contact-collision sport. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cerebral blood flow regulation | Subject's cerebral blood flow regulation (cm/sec) at rest, during a cognitive test, and during a breathing test will be measured. | Change in Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, and 3 months post concussion | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blood Biomarkers | Subjects will have their blood drawn so investigators can look at biomarkers in their blood. The biomarkers will be Tau, a-Spectrin N-Terminal Fragment, Neuron-specific enolase, Ubiquitin C-Terminal hydrolase L1, S100B, and Glial fibrillary acidic protein. | Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, 3 months post concussion | 
| Memory Function Test | Subjects will be given paper tests to test their memory function. | Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, 3 months post concussion | 
| Balance Test | Subjects balance will be measured using a force plate. | Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, 3 months post concussion | 
| Orthostatic Tolerance Test | Subjects physiological measurements will be measured as the move from a seated position to a standing position. | Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, 3 months post concussion | 
| Cerebral Vasoreactivity | Subjects will breathe normal air, a 8% carbon dioxide gas mixture, and hyperventilate. | Control, 3 days post concussion, 21 days post concussion, 3 months post concussion |