Concussion

Why study concussion?

Anyone – from infants to the elderly – can experience a concussion. Approximately 150,000 people are affected by concussion every year in Ontario alone.

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) is a type of brain injury caused by impact to the head, neck, or body. People usually experience concussion after a fall, accident, or blow to the head. While they were once dismissed as minor accidents, concussions have since made major headlines. We now know that concussion may result in long-term consequences that can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life.

Though our understanding of concussion has greatly improved over the years, there remain many gaps in our knowledge. There is a pressing need to enhance our ability to diagnose concussion quickly and accurately to better manage symptoms over time.

Concussion Ontario Network: Neuroinformatics to Enhance Clinical Care and Translation

The Concussion Ontario Network: Neuroinformatics to Enhance Clinical Care and Translation (CONNECT) Program is an alliance spanning multiple sectors and disciplines. The CONNECT Program links physicians, researchers, and patients across Ontario to ensure that the latest advances in our understanding of concussion are translated into better diagnosis and care.

The CONNECT Program’s vision is for Ontario’s clinicians and researchers to be world leaders in helping affected individuals achieve the most rapid and complete recovery from concussion.
visit CONNECT

Improving Knowledge and Care with a Groundbreaking Concussion Study

CONNECT’s novel approach to studying concussions is based on more immediate examination of the patient. It is the first ultra-early post-concussion study of its kind in adults with non-sports related concussions. Information was gathered within hours of a concussion, allowing researchers to explore the immediate cellular changes to the brain. Researchers will now be able to investigate how these early changes correlate to patient-reported symptoms.

“By studying concussions soon after they occur,” says Dr. Cindy Hunt, CONNECT Researcher and Senior Research Associate at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, “we are gathering missing pieces of information on concussion to gain a better overall understanding of the condition, and to better support patients at home, and in a clinical setting.”

Mapping Stakeholder Perspectives in Concussion Research

Involving stakeholders can improve quality and impact in health research. The best ways to support effective research engagement with stakeholders have not been well studied in the area of concussion. Concussion is a worldwide public health concern. The aim of the study was to identify potential benefits, challenges, and motivators to engaging in research by gathering the perspectives of adults with lived experience of concussion. This study was a collaboration with the CONNECT Community Stakeholder Engagement Committee and the Ontario Brain Injury Association.

The impact of our work

Improving Knowledge and Care with a Groundbreaking Concussion Study

CONNECT’s novel approach to studying concussions is based on more immediate examination of the patient. It is the first ultra-early post-concussion study of its kind in adults with non-sports related concussions. Information was gathered within hours of a concussion, allowing researchers to explore the immediate cellular changes to the brain. Researchers will now be able to investigate how these early changes correlate to patient-reported symptoms.

“By studying concussions soon after they occur,” says Dr. Cindy Hunt, CONNECT Researcher and Senior Research Associate at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, “we are gathering missing pieces of information on concussion to gain a better overall understanding of the condition, and to better support patients at home, and in a clinical setting.”