Digital headset may aid athletes’ return to play following concussion

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A revolutionary digital headset has been designed to measure changes in brain function that may affect the decisions regarding the readiness of an athlete to return to play after suffering a concussion. In a study conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco, this device was found to detect brain changes even in athletes who had recovered from their concussion symptoms, potentially indicating that they may be returning to play too soon.

Although the device has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is expected to fill a critical need for athletes, clinicians, trainers, and coaches who are concerned about the long-term effects of repeated sports-related concussions, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases.

The patented headset, developed by UCSF and licensed by MindRhythm, a medical technology company, was able to detect alterations in “headpulse,” subtle forces exerted on the skull as the heart contracts, according to the researchers.

The evaluation of the device involved 101 young adults who played Australian Rules Football and had experienced 44 concussions. The results of the study were published in JAMA Network Open on August 11, 2023.

On average, the changes detected by the headset persisted for 12 days longer than the athletes’ symptoms.

We found a disparity between symptoms and changes in biometrics recorded by the device, raising concerns about relying solely on symptoms for return-to-play decisions. Delays may be recommended for athletes who are symptom-free if head pulse abnormalities persist.”


Cathra Halabi, MD, UCSF Department of Neurology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, who is the first author of the study

Researchers emphasized that the use of the headset should be paired with medical expertise for proper assessment.

“We believe that it can provide critical objective biometric measures that can be used by athletes and medical professionals to decide when to return to play,” said senior author Wade S. Smith, MD, PhD, chief of the UCSF Neurovascular Division and co-founder of MindRhythm. “The headset is also used to monitor athletes afterward to ensure measures remain in the normal range.”

Concussed brain at risk if physical activity resumed

Playing sports with a concussion puts the brain at a heightened risk of damage. “There is a rare condition called second impact syndrome, where a soon-after second concussion can cause near immediate brain death,” Smith said.

In addition, playing sports with a concussion may result in an increased risk for subsequent brain injury due to symptoms such as delayed reaction time, impaired balance, or vision.

“Recurrent concussions in close succession can lead to more debilitating symptoms that last longer, keeping athletes out of the game,” Halabi said.

While the headset was tested in young adults, it may eventually be extended for use in minors. MindRhythm hopes to obtain FDA approval within one year, according to co-founder and chief executive officer John Keane. “The plan is to make the technology available to the medical community, with the most likely areas of interest being sports medicine physicians and concussion clinics,” he said.

Athletes with a concussion may be able to record their own biometric measurements, according to the researchers. Clinicians or athletic trainers would monitor the data remotely and provide guidance on when it is safe to resume sports and other physical activities.

Source:

University of California – San Francisco

Journal reference:

Halabi, C., et al. (2023). Headpulse Biometric Measures Following Concussion in Young Adult Athletes. JAMA Network Open. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28633.

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