RESEARCHERS from Monash University and The Alfred have developed a pioneering blood test that could dramatically improve the diagnosis of concussion in older people.
The new study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that a protein known as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) can be detected in blood plasma and used as a reliable indicator of concussion in adults aged over 60.
Concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), remains one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose in older Australians. Symptoms such as confusion, fatigue, memory loss and poor concentration often overlap with normal ageing or pre-existing medical conditions, making it difficult for doctors to determine whether a head injury has occurred.
Researchers analysed blood samples from 89 patients aged between 60 and 84 who presented to The Alfred following falls or head injuries. They discovered significantly elevated levels of GFAP in patients who had sustained a concussion compared with those who had not.
Lead author Gershon Spitz from the Monash School of Psychological Sciences said the findings could help remove much of the uncertainty currently surrounding concussion diagnosis in older adults.
“There is a lot of ambiguity in the way the diagnostic process works currently, and doctors often rely on information reported by patients themselves, which comes with all sorts of bias,” Dr Spitz said.
“When we’re talking about a potential head injury, there are also potentially cognitive issues like loss of consciousness or memory loss, that often makes it difficult for the person to remember clearly what happened in a way that can assist in a diagnosis.
“But the GFAP protein is an objective and reliable measure that we are confident will be a game-changer.”
Senior author Sandy Shultz from the Monash School of Translational Medicine said the test could eventually become a vital tool not only in hospitals, but also for paramedics and frontline emergency responders.
“Timing is critical for the effective treatment of concussion,” she said.
