- Researchers hail ‘gamechanger’ in head injury treatment
- Study was partly funded by Rugby Football Union
A new technology that could pave the way for an objective test to diagnose concussion at pitchside has been hailed as a “gamechanger” by researchers. The test, performed on saliva samples, has the potential to be used in high-impact sports such as elite rugby and football where head injuries are common, and also at grassroots level and in other areas of life.
The research team, led by the University of Birmingham and part‑funded by the Rugby Football Union, has published the study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The identification of the biomarkers in saliva creates the possibility of a non-invasive clinical test for concussion.
