“Athletes carrying a specific genotype (CACNA1E rs704326) in our study were found to have a much greater risk of a prolonged recovery following concussion,” said lead author, Jane McDevitt, PhD from Temple University in Philadelphia. “Athletes who also reported having balance issues/deficits were also more likely to take a longer time to recover.”
McDevitt and her team analyzed information from 40 athletes with a diagnosed concussion from a hospital concussion program. Researchers further evaluated the concussion injury characteristics, acute signs, symptoms and then objective screenings, such as vestibular ocular assessments, balance error scoring, and Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing exam. In addition, study participants provided a salivary sample to isolate certain DNA.
“We need to perform additional research but we think there may be a connection between the genetic proteins and the increase of calcium which leads to the deficits in recovery,” said McDevitt.
The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. AOSSM is also a founding partner of the STOP Sports Injuries campaign to prevent overuse and traumatic injuries in kids.
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