Research into concussion in sport is being stepped up through the widening of a saliva test for concussion in men being expanded into women’s rugby.
Statistics suggest that female athletes experience a higher rate of concussion, which may be accompanied by a wider range of more severe and prolonged symptoms compared to their male counterparts.
Calls have been made for female-specific protocols and means of protecting them from the impact of concussion.
Now, emerging biotech company Marker Health is using its CE-certified mouth swab test to collect data from women rugby players.
Following successful data collection during last year’s delayed 2021 Women’s World Cup and the Farah Palmer Cup in New Zealand, the comprehensive research programme will involve data collection from elite and community level rugby players, to support the extension of Marker’s current test approval to all levels of the female game.
Partnerships include the Allianz Premier 15s and the recent TikTok Women’s Six Nations, with more set to be made in the near future, making this the most comprehensive programme of female-focused research to date.
The research is based on the analysis of small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) biomarkers in the saliva from a quick, easy and non-invasive mouth swab.
Following a concussive event, a cascade of chemical processes occurs in the brain, altering biomarker profiles.
Marker will analyse these changes to provide doctors with an accurate biological tool to diagnose concussions.
Without an objective test, concussion has been challenging to diagnose with doctors currently relying on a series of subjective tests to make their diagnoses.
The previous research among male athletes was based on a study led by Dr Valentina Di Pietro and Professor Tony Belli at the University of Birmingham.
“Concussion can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in settings such as grassroots sports where evaluation by a specialist clinician is not possible,” said Dr Di Pietro.
“Consequently, some concussions may go undiagnosed. A non-invasive and accurate diagnostic test using saliva is a real game changer and will provide an invaluable tool to help doctors diagnose concussions more consistently and accurately.”
David Cohen, chairman of Marker, said: “As seen in the huge crowd at the final game of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, it is fortuitous that the phenomenal growth in Women’s rugby is occurring as we are extending our concussion diagnostic to female athletes.
“It is critical to provide specific and accurate biological concussion diagnosis and safe return to play for women. The test can then be used to objectively support enhanced player welfare practices focussed on brain health across at all levels of female sport.
“The relationship with the University of Birmingham and our international collaborations with the RFU, NZR and TikTok Women’s Six Nations is rapidly moving us closer to providing female players with an accurate and objective concussion test.”
