Analysis and prediction of traumatic brain injury and concussion symptoms

A method for detecting or diagnosing a concussion, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or other traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a human subject comprising:

• (a) determining abundance or concentration level(s) of one or more micro RNAs (miRNAs) in a saliva sample taken from the human subject, and
• (b) comparing the determined abundance or concentration level(s) of the one or more miRNAs against normal level(s) of the same one or more miRNAs, wherein the normal level is that found in a subject, or an average from two of more subjects, not having a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury;
• or is an abundance or concentration level(s) determined in the subject prior to an event that-produces a concussion, mTBI, or other TBI, and
• (c) selecting a subject having an abnormal level of said one or more miRNAs as having a concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, or other traumatic brain injury;
• wherein the one or more miRNA and the abnormal level of said one or more miRNA is at least one of:
• miR-29c-3p which is upregulated in the human subject as compared to the normal level;
• miR-26b-5p which is downregulated in the human subject as compared to the normal level;
• miR-182-5p which is downregulated in the human subject as compared to the normal level;
• miR-320c which is downregulated in the human subject as compared to the normal level;
• or miR-221-3p which is downregulated in the human subject as compared to the normal level;
• and;
• (d)-further comprising treating the selected subject in (c) for a concussion, mTBI, or other TBI by administering a medication, surgery, or cognitive therapy or psychotherapy that reduces the severity of the concussion, mTBI, or other TBI.