Traumatic brain injury affects millions of people each year and often results in long-term cognitive, psychiatric, and physical problems.

These effects can vary greatly, with some people experiencing a decline years after the injury. However, the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury are often misunderstood, with many patients receiving vague diagnoses like post-concussion syndrome, which may lead to inappropriate management.

A major contributor to these prolonged effects is the development of progressive neurodegenerative conditions, where harmful proteins like tau and amyloid-β accumulate in the brain, increasing the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Recent research has highlighted the potential of blood tests as a tool for diagnosing and tracking these long-term effects. Studies have shown that certain proteins, such as phosphorylated tau and UCH-L1, remain elevated in the blood long after a traumatic brain injury, even up to ten years later.

These proteins correlate with brain damage and cognitive problems, and advanced testing technologies now allow for the precise detection of these biomarkers. This represents a major leap forward in non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostics.

These biomarkers can provide valuable information about the presence and progression of brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, by measuring low concentrations of brain-derived proteins in the blood. Just as important, they may dismiss the risk of long-term effects of a previous trauma in others.

The role of blood biomarkers is also crucial in understanding how traumatic brain injury might accelerate neurodegenerative diseases. For example, blood levels of tau suggest that brain damage from traumatic brain injury may lead to early amyloid and tau buildup, potentially speeding up the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Moreover, biomarkers like UCH-L1 may indicate persistent disruptions in protein homeostasis after the injury, which could be linked to the development of neurodegenerative pathology.

As this research progresses, blood tests may become an essential part of assessing the impact of traumatic brain injury, particularly in older adults who are at higher risk of neurodegenerative conditions.

This could lead to more accurate diagnoses, better prognostication, and earlier interventions to prevent further neurological decline.

About the scientific paper:

First author: David Sharp, England
Published: Brain, November 2024.
Link to paper: https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/147/11/3641/7866920?searchresult=1