Glutamate Predicts Post-Concussion Symptoms in Collegiate Athletes

A population of collegiate athletes, along with matched age and gender-matched student-athlete controls, were evaluated post-concussion, for neurometabolic levels in the PCG by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) following injury. Evaluations were conducted 72 hours post-diagnosis. For the purpose of this work, correlations between total Glutamate (Glu+Gln), total Glutamate to total Creatine ratios, and symptoms on the PCS scale associated with cognitive fatigue - such as mental fog, drowsiness, fatigue, and feeling slowed - were explored.