URMC Concussion Research Featured in Wall Street Journal

Research led by Jeffrey J. Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H., was featured in the R&D; section of last weekend’s Wall Street Journal. The article highlighted Bazarian’s latest concussion study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, which found that elevated levels of a brain protein known as S100B accurately identify a concussion. The finding could lead to a simple finger-stick blood test done on the side of a football field or hockey rink. Such a test would remove the element of guesswork currently employed by coaches and trainers in deciding whether a player can return to the field or ice.

The article states “Jeffrey Bazarian…says between 1.6 million and 3.8 million U.S. sports concussions are diagnosed annually, but that the true number is probably twice that. A simple sideline biomarker test could make it harder to hide or overlook these—and easier get athletes with head injuries out of the game.”