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How new research is tackling concussion, in the lab and on the field The Neurological Foundation has a long history of supporting breakthroughs in concussion research. In fact, traumatic brain injury was one of the first topics we funded, and an area where our researchers first made an impact. I n the 1970s, our understanding of concussion shifted thanks to the work of Dorothy Gronwall, a University of Auckland neuropsychologist, and Philip Wrightson, a neurosurgeon. They developed the PASAT (or the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test), a cognitive assessment that was able to reliably detect a minor concussion. Until then, mild head injuries were often dismissed as insignificant. The test was adopted internationally and helped to shape the emerging understanding that concussion is a serious neurological event. Fifty years on, we are still learning about concussion, particularly the hidden impact of minor head knocks, and breakthroughs continue to be made. We now know that even a single traumatic brain injury can have significant long- term neurological effects. Concussion research is far more advanced, supported by modern imaging, biomarkers, and digital assessment tools — and New Zealand continues to lead the way. From designing smarter headgear, and tracking brain changes with advanced scans, to new breakthroughs in CTE and even how bone marrow could help heal the brain, the Neurological Foundation funds many world-leading concussion-focussed research programmes. Today’s research not only deepens our understanding of brain injury but also aims to better protect players, making sport safer for future generations. Read on to find out more. We now know that even a single traumatic brain injury can have significant long-term neurological effects. Headlines 5