An observational study exploring outcomes following concussion to optimise recovery

A concussion — also called a mild traumatic brain injury — is one of the most common injuries seen in emergency departments. While most people recover fully within a few weeks, a significant number go on to experience persistent symptoms like headaches, memory problems, dizziness, and mood changes for months afterward. Identifying who is at risk of a slow or incomplete recovery is very difficult in the early stages. This study is recruiting people who have just been diagnosed with a concussion in a hospital emergency department. In the first few days after injury, participants complete questionnaires, have blood and saliva samples taken, undergo brain MRI scanning, and complete clinical assessments. Over the following year, they are contacted by phone at regular intervals to track how their symptoms and quality of life are changing. By combining early biological markers, brain imaging, and clinical information, researchers hope to build a model that can predict who needs more intensive follow-up care. You may be eligible if you are between 14 and 65 years old, have been diagnosed with a concussion by a doctor within the last 12 hours, and can attend a follow-up assessment within 4 days. People with existing serious neurological conditions, significant psychiatric illness, or who are pregnant would not be eligible.