Author: Bolysbek Dana
Editor: Merentsova Anastasia
In the first study of its kind, the research team demonstrated that quantitative indicators of pupillary light reflex (PRL), which measure how the pupil reacts to light, can be used to monitor concussions in adolescents.
Concussion is known to have a negative effect on the visual system. Pupil Light Response is a self-contained function that can be easily captured using an automatic dynamic infrared device.
At the moment, the correct diagnosis of concussion is the most difficult task due to the lack of objective diagnostic tests for adolescents. In recent years, researchers have been looking for objective concussion biomarkers that can confirm this diagnosis.
Previous studies have shown that concussion leads to difficulty in adjusting visual focus and impairments to the autonomic nervous system, making CDA a potential physiological biomarker for concussion.
The study directly involved a group of teenage athletes between the ages of 12 and 18: healthy athletes, and athletes with sports-related concussion. The researchers were interested in nine specific indicators of ZSR, which objectively assess the autonomic function, which does not depend on the conscious efforts of a person.
The result of the work carried out was the discovery of significant differences between athletes with concussion and healthy adolescents in all indicators of SDR, except for the latency period or the time it takes a student to react to light.
Athletes with concussion had larger maximum and minimum pupil diameters, higher percent of constriction, and higher peak and mean rates of constriction and dilation compared to healthy athletes.
The researchers hope that, thanks to the results obtained, ZSR can be implemented as a tool for assessing the general condition of athletes, which can help in more timely and accurate diagnosis and, accordingly, correctly prescribed emergency care and treatment of concussion.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-handheld-device-fast-method-concussions.html
