Saliva could show whether or not a person has had a concussion. This is the conclusion reached by a team of scientists from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), showing that it is possible to detect non-invasively if someone has suffered a concussion by looking for certain molecules in the person’s saliva. In addition, the results of the research have been published in various magazines such as the British Journal of Sports Medicine or Science Magazine.
To carry out the research, the scientists analyzed saliva samples from more than 1,000 rugby players from England’s two major professional leagues (the Premiership and the Championship). They also included 156 athletes who underwent a medical evaluation for head trauma, of which 106 were found to have concussions. Likewise, the scientists collected data from 102 players who had not suffered any type of injury and 66 players who, despite having suffered an injury, had not been to the head.
Investigation Development
Using data from the first season, and thanks to DNA sequencing technology, the scientists were able to identify 14 different RNAs that appeared to distinguish players who had a concussion from those who had not. Similarly, the second season tests showed 94% accuracy, as stated by the researchers.
Thus, this study could pave the way to create a rapid saliva test to detect concussions in the future, so it could have multiple applications in sports, healthcare and even in the military. However, the method has not yet been tested in women and more research is required. Therefore, the researchers are focused on collecting more samples from elite players with the aim of providing additional data and expanding the test.
