Warning: This topic contains a description of traumatic brain injury and could be upsetting and/or traumatizing for some readers.
Throughout the day, our body generates large amounts of toxic molecules and salts that are routinely handled by the internal organs but could damage the brain tissue. The concentration of metabolites that are noxious for the brain can also increase from a variety of external factors, such as following drug consumption or drinking. Yet, the brain is normally protected from the damaging substances as there exists an air-tight protective layer of cells and proteins that ensheathe the brain vasculature. This protective layer is called the blood-brain barrier and ensures that the brain only receives molecules that are needed for its normal functioning. Metabolic waste and external toxins are barred from entering the brain since neurons. Any unusual molecules that cross the barrier could damage neurons, leading to neurological disease. In fact, even our own blood proteins, if end up in the brain, can trigger abnormal signaling pathways leading to inflammation and eventually neuronal death.
In various brain diseases, lab experiments have shown that the blood-brain barrier can be compromised, leading to long-term dysfunction. Therefore, its investigation as a diagnostic marker for predicting brain injury outcomes has been trending across many brain research areas, such as stroke, degenerative disease, neuroinflammation and trauma. To assess the barrier function non-invasively, the researchers inject the study participants with a tracer that can be localized using MRI. Most of the tracer is cleared out quickly from the blood stream, but miniscule amounts end up crossing the blood-brain barrier and light up the regions with high amount of leakage on the computer processed MR images of the brain. This allows us to estimate if the blood-brain barrier is within the normal range for the given patient.
A Dal study has used this method to assess the effects of concussions and head collisions in the professional American football players. One of the preliminary findings is that concussions or trauma-like symptoms result not from a single intense hit but from the accumulation of small hits during practice or games. The study suggests that head impacts can disrupt the blood-brain barrier, which normally protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood. When this barrier is compromised, leakage can occur, leading to changes in brain function and structure, potentially causing cognitive decline or issues with emotion and movement. The specific effects are thought to depend on which part of the brain is impacted.
In conclusion, this research highlights the critical issue of football safety, focusing on head injuries and their long-term effects. The study’s findings on the blood-brain barrier in athletes with a history of concussions emphasize the importance of identifying individuals at risk for future complications. While most people recover from concussions without lasting problems, the necessity of targeted measures to protect those who are more vulnerable is clear.
