Concussion recovery time could be predicted by blood biomarker tau

A study published in Neurology describes the correlation between a longer recovery time after concussion and higher levels of tau. The tau protein, measured in blood, may be an identifiable biomarker that could be used to predict an athlete’s recovery, providing a quantitative assessment, unlike the subjective self-reported tests that are generally currently used. Researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (NY, USA) investigated the changes in tau levels in college athletes – from a variety of sport backgrounds – who experienced concussion in play. Blood samples were collected 6 hours after concussion and compared to preseason samples. Athletes...