The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Awesome

FDA approves rapid concussion blood test - Footballscoop
https://footballscoop.com/news/fda-appro...blood-test

(04-19-2024 08:01 AM)okgc Wrote:  Awesome

FDA approves rapid concussion blood test - Footballscoop
https://footballscoop.com/news/fda-appro...blood-test

I’m sure Aaron Rodgers will find something wrong with it, refuse to ever take the test, deem it to be fake news as well as the latest government conspiracy somehow linked to Dr. Fauci. Seriously…good stuff and much needed.

I'll bite.

I'm a little skeptical of how this is going to be used. Sounds like as is, they can test players who appeared to have a concussion up to 24 hours after it happened by detecting a protein from injured neurons in blood. So, 19 of 20 players suspecting of having concussions but actually don't can return to practice/play. So, as advertised, a more objective measurement of a concussion. The hope is obviously a rabid in-game test versus doing a reaction time test, etc. Right now, it's most apparent use is a less invasive/less expensive alternative than doing a CT scan.

But how do they get that success number if all measurements of a concussion are subjective? What about the sub-concussive blows that are said to be the real danger in causing CTE (not concussions) and presumably won't be picked up by this test? Would we then see even more brain damage rather than taking a more cautious approach with suspected concussion cases? Also, how fast does it take for the proteins to circulate in blood following injury, i.e. will this test ever be functionally useful in an in-game setting?

There, done, and all without the power of Rodger's the Machine Elves.

But, truly seriously, I hope this would employed in a very cautious, methodical manner, rather then everyone rushing into it as a miracle cure. Somehow, I expect it will not be, because so few of incentives in society are aligned with a methodical approach, versus a mad rush.