Diagnosing a concussion can sometimes be a guessing game, but clues taken from small molecules in saliva may be able to help diagnose and predict the duration of concussions in children, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Researchers measured the levels of microRNAs—tiny snippets of noncoding RNA—in the saliva of concussion patients. They found that the presence of certain microRNAs in saliva was able to better identify concussions and more accurately predict the length of concussion symptoms than relying solely on patient surveys.

Steven Hicks, an assistant professor of pediatrics, said the findings—published today (Nov. 20) in JAMA Pediatrics—could result in a more fact-based way to diagnose and treat concussion patients.

Read the full article about a new way to diagnose concussions at Penn State News.