Researchers Testing Red Wine Compound to Treat Concussions

(Army.mil)

Trauma specialists at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas are testing a component in red wine and grapes that could help reduce the short- and long-term effects of concussions. In the study, the researchers are enlisting the help of professional boxers and trainers.

The research involves resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and their derivatives such as red wine, that in lab tests on animals has shown an ability to protect against neurological disorders. Southwestern’s Joshua Gatson, a professor of surgery specializing in trauma and critical care and principal investigator for the study, says that the lab research shows the drug given “immediately after or soon after a brain injury, it can dramatically and significantly reduce the damage you see long term.”

Gatson notes that the usual treatment for sports-related concussions are rest and light exercise, “but there is no drug therapy to protect the brain from consecutive concussions, which are actually a lot worse than the initial one.” This study tests on humans resveratrol’s potential effect on traumatic brain injuries.

Because boxers can have several fights in a short period of time, the researchers decided to target pro boxers. In this study, researchers are administering the required oral dose — found in the equivalent of 50 glasses of wine — once a day for seven days.

Pro boxers will take a supplement form of resveratrol within two hours of their match. Researchers will then use neurocognitive tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) to track brain activity, inflammation, and restoration of cells and connections.

To recruit pro boxers as subjects, Gatson enlisted the help of Joseph Mohmed, a coach for USA Boxing, the governing body for all amateur boxing, including the Olympics. Mohmed is serving as the study’s research coordinator, and is a former facilities manager at UT Southwestern. The study is still recruiting participants; boxers in North Texas interested in taking part can contact Gatson at 817-637-8043 or Mohmed at 214-803-5998.

While the study involves boxers, the findings will likely apply to other sports where concussions are common, such as football and hockey, as well as occupations and activities outside of sports that run the risk of traumatic brain injuries.

Read more: Rawlings, Cleveland Clinic to Research Sports Concussions

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