Christie, Gawryluk, Faubert receive $2M for concussion research project focused on older adults

Oct 17, 2024

Dr. Brian Christie (Division of Medical Sciences; Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health (IALH)), Dr. Jodie Gawryluk (Psychology, cross-appointed Division of Medical Sciences; IALH acting director) and trainees in their respective labs at the University of Victoria are set to collaborate on an innovative concussion research project. Along with project lead Dr. Jocelyn Faubert (Université de Montréal) and collaborator NeuroTracker, the team aims to better understand the long-term consequences of—and the effectiveness of certain treatment options for—mild traumatic brain injuries in older adults.

Previous evidence suggests concussions can lead to altered brain structure, increased dementia risks, and chronic, long-term neurological disturbances. However, sex-based differences in these effects are not well understood. The project will examine the long-term consequences of mild traumatic brain injuries, with a particular focus on how they differently affect aging males and females.

The project will also investigate the potential of NeuroTracker’s cognitive training platform as a treatment for these enduring consequences in people with a history of concussions. Pilot data from a 2021 patient-oriented research by PhD candidate Taylor Snowden-Richardson (Christie lab) suggested that using NeuroTracker could improve a brain injury survivor’s performance on neuropsychological tests of working memory and attention, along with reducing symptoms. MSc student Jamie Morrison (Christie lab) is currently investigating potential biological changes that could be the underlying reason for these improvements. PhD candidate Colleen Lacey (Gawryluk lab) is conducting the neuropsychological assessments that are part of this research.

This new study will employ advanced techniques, including blood-based biomarker analysis, fMRI diffusion tensor imaging, and cognitive assessments using NeuroTracker. The project, valued at approximately $2 million, is funded by the Quebec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM), Brain Canada Foundation, and NeuroTracker.