Exploring a safe and natural way to treat head injuries
May 31, 2011
Concussions have dominated the sports medicine headlines lately. Scientists are currently exploring resveratrol, a compound found in red wine and grapes, as a safe and natural way to treat the all-too-common injury.
Research is being conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas by treating professional boxers who sustain concussions in the ring with resveratrol pills. The pills are taken within two hours of a match, followed by one a day for the next seven days. The purpose is to see if the oral form of resveratrol will have the potential to be an effective concussion treatment by reducing damage to the brain. Researchers will track the subjects with neurocognitive tests and MRI protocols to check for signs of brain cell restoration, inflammation and brain activity.
The study began last month, and results are expected to be released by December. Scientists hope that resveratrol can reduce the short and long-term effects of concussions, and that treatment could be applied to all types of sports-related concussions as well as injuries sustained in car accidents and falls. The compound is also being studied as an agent to protect against cancer and promote cardiovascular health.