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A study from the University of Arizona may lead to better treatment of for the symptoms of concussion.
Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), commonly referred to as ‘concussions’, are an ever-present danger in sports. The threat of mTBIs exists in most sports, regardless of whether they involve contact or blows to the head.
The world of combat sports is especially prone to mTBIs, which are created when the brain rattles inside of the skull. The rotational acceleration of the brain can lead to symptoms that include loss of consciousness, dizziness, light sensitivity, headaches and changes in mood.
These injuries don’t require an impact directly to the head. They can occur anytime the head moves suddenly and at a rapid pace. Whiplash after a car crash or after an NFL tackle, for example, can cause mTBIs.
A single mTBI can lead to long-term health effects, such as post concussion syndrome (PCS) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). PCS is when symptoms of concussion persist for some time after the initial injury. Most of the time PCS affects a person for a number of days or weeks. There have been examples of individuals suffering PCS for months and even years after their injury.
CTE is a disease that is caused by tangles of the pTau protein. This protein is released when the brain suffers an mTBI, as well as when the brain suffers sub-concussive blows. When the protein tangles it blocks blood flow across the brain, causing parts of the brain to decay. The process is very similar to what happens in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Symptoms of CTE include cognitive impairment and increased risk of suicide.
According to Medical Express researchers at the University of Arizona may have discovered a breakthrough that can lead to better management of one of the symptoms associated with concussions; headaches.
U of A, in collaboration with Teva Biologics and the Mayo Clinic, conducted their study with the goal of identifying the precise cause of post-concussion headaches. The study also sought to develop therapies for these headaches.
During their study scientists discovered the likely candidate was calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is an amino acid that is produced in brain cells. At normal levels CGRP is instrumental in widening blood vessels to regulate the flow of blood around the brain. Elevated levels of CGRP have been observed in people who suffer from migraines.
To test whether CGRP is connected to concussion-based headaches, scientists conducted a series of tests on mice.
After inducing traumatic brain injuries in mice the scientists administered, to some of them, a CGRP blocking drug. The drug was administered in two doses; one two hours and one seven days after the injury. The scientists learned that mice who received the medication had significantly lower pain responses than mice who were left untreated.
The scientists also wanted to test whether CGRP was also responsible for headaches that persist weeks after the injury; such as what happens with PCS. To do this they administered the drug to some of the injured mice 14 days after their injuries. They then exposed the mice to bright light.
In mice which had been injured, but had earlier anti-CGRP treatment, bright light was shown to induce headaches. In mice who received an additional anti-CGRP treatment prior to the bright light test, no headaches occurred.
These studies lead scientists to confirm that CGRP may be the link between traumatic brain injuries and post-injury headaches.
“The encouraging aspect is that we do have a mechanism which seems to be driving some aspect of the pain, and if treated at the right time in this preclinical model, it seems to be effective,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Frank Porreca, the associate head of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
The next potential step in this study is human clinical trials. There scientists can try to figure out the correct dose and scheduling that might lead to better treatments for athletes suffering from concussion-related headaches.