Researchers at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital want to learn more about the effects concussions have on the growing brains of young athletes. Over the course of three years, researchers will study concussions and changes in brain function by monitoring hits to the head through unique mouth guards. The mouth guards, equipped with special sensors, will track the location and force of the hit. The sensors store data which is then retrieved for researchers to study.

Researchers are also performing neuropsychologic assessments to monitor changes in cognitive, emotional and behavioral function over time. Additionally, they are collecting biospecimens, including urine, blood and saliva, with a goal to discover whether there may be new biomarkers that indicate a brain injury and how a young athlete’s body might respond.

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