IAS Seminar: When is the Brain Most at Risk?

IAS Visiting Fellow Dr Vickie Shim delivers a seminar on their research.

How long does the brain remain vulnerable after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)? This critical question remains largely unanswered. The current 23 day stand-down period for clinically diagnosed concussions is under scrutiny, as it's unclear if this duration is truly sufficient for recovery. Furthermore, individuals experiencing repetitive subconcussive head impacts, such as contact sport players, face risks of long-term neurological damage, yet clear guidelines for their rest and recovery are lacking. mTBI is a widespread issue, affecting millions annually, especially in sports and military settings, with recovery complicated by varied symptoms and potential underreporting.

Dr Vickie Shim's four-year longitudinal study with high school rugby players aims to shed light on this. By measuring brain changes with advanced MRI and monitoring head impacts via instrumented mouthguards, they have developed a novel AI-based pipeline to detect microstructural brain alterations. In this seminar, Dr Shum will present the findings, which contribute to developing a clinical tool for the early diagnosis and prognosis of mTBI, ultimately helping to determine appropriate recovery timelines.

Arrivals from 11.45am for a 12pm start. For those joining in-person, lunch will be served after the seminar from 1pm