A York University research team is inviting elite athletes to participate in a groundbreaking study examining the long-term effects of concussion and sub-concussive impacts on brain health.
Led by PhD candidate Sara Weinberg from the School of Kinesiology and Health Science and supervised by Faculty of Health Associate Professor Taylor Cleworth and Professor Lauren Sergio, the study is part of a broader initiative to better understand how high-level sport participation may influence neurological function later in life.
The team is recruiting athletes aged 30 to 65 who have competed at the semi-professional, professional or provincial/national level. Participants will be placed in one of two groups based on their concussion history: those who have experienced prior head injuries and those without concussion history.
The study includes a series of assessments conducted at the Sherman Health Science Research Centre on York’s Keele Campus. Participants will complete questionnaires, coordination and balance tasks and provide a saliva sample. The session concludes with a 45-minute MRI scan to capture detailed images of brain structure and function.
Participation requires a single two-hour visit, and volunteers will receive $50 compensation. Parking is provided and the site is accessible via the Pioneer Village TTC station.
Interested athletes can contact the research team at concussionyork@gmail.com or call 416-736-2100 ext. 33641.
This study, titled “The long-term impact of concussion in elite athletes: assessing skilled performance and neurological function” is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).