Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Longitudinally Characterize Brain Metabolism Changes in the Event of Repeated Subconcussive Head Trauma in Sports

The proposed project aims to use a non-invasive method of analyzing brain chemistry, known as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to characterize changes in specific brain metabolites that are indicative of disease-processes occurring in the brain as a consequence of repeated subconcussive head trauma in high school football athletes. This project offers an opportunity for biomarker elucidation in attempts to preserve athlete health by providing information on their brain health before any symptoms are present. This would help protect athletes from developing irreversible brain pathologies like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). By analyzing the changes present, the project’s benefit for both institutions lies in its opportunity for follow up studies to characterize the changes through multimodal methods, which may extend into a system’s biology approach in answering the following questions: what are the molecular mechanisms and factors mediating the neurochemical changes? Are there pharmacological ways of modulating the pathway? Do older cohorts exhibit the same changes? Do these changes vary between gender? Facilitating the collaboration allows for new methodological perspectives that are not readily available in Canada and if deemed as an important aspect of neuro-pathophysiology, this may prompt similar investigation and development of the sophisticated tools for clinical use.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Kawaja

Student:

Partner:

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Queen's University

Program: