Blood Test Could Make Identifying Concussion A Lot Easier

BOSTON (CBS) – Concussions. Parents, players, and coaches are becoming increasingly concerned about the risk they pose, but they can be difficult to diagnose. As Dr. Mallika Marshall reports, a local company has developed a blood test that could make identifying a concussion a lot easier. “From that moment on my life changed forever,” says Taylor Twellman thinking back to a fateful day in 2008 when he suffered a blow to the head that ended his career as a star soccer player with the New England Revolution. “Post-concussion syndrome has been a huge part of my life and it’s something I deal with to this day,” says Twellman. Former New England Revolution player Taylor Twellman. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) According to the Centers for Disease Control, up to four million concussions occur each year. A big challenge is trying to figure out whether someone has actually had one or not. Lexington-based Quanterix may have a solution. “It’s like rocket science on the blood,” says Quanterix CEO and Executive Chairman, Kevin Hrusovsky. Instead of shooting for the stars, Quanterix is using the world’s most sensitive machines to search for tiny amounts of protein that leak into the blood when the brain is injured. One protein is called Tau. “We’ve had NHL players that have been concussed and one hour after the concussion they’ve taken blood tests and have been able to see Tau elevated with our technology,” says Hrusovsky. ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen Concussion Dr. Mallika Marshall Taylor Twellman Source Type: news