Long-term structural changes after mTBI and their relation to post-concussion symptoms. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dean, Philip J. A.; Sato, Joao Ricardo; Vieira, Gilson; McNamara, Adam; Sterr, Annette
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 29:Number 10(2015)
• Page Start: 1211
• Page End: 1218
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Primary objective</italic>: To investigate sustained structural changes in the long-term (&gt;1 year) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and their relationship to ongoing post-concussion syndrome (PCS).</p> <p> <italic>Research design</italic>: Morphological and structural connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired from 16 participants with mTBI and nine participants without previous head injury.</p> <p> <italic>Main outcomes and results</italic>: Participants with mTBI had less prefrontal grey matter and lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the anterior corona radiata and internal capsule. Furthermore, PCS severity was associated with less parietal lobe grey matter and lower FA in the corpus callosum.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: There is evidence for both white and grey matter damage in participants with mTBI over 1 year after injury. Furthermore, these structural changes are greater in those that report more PCS symptoms, suggesting a neurophysiological basis for these persistent symptoms.</p> </abstract>