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Concussion-related cognitive and lipid prodromal biomarker changes in the UK rugby health study
24 November 2025
Long-term effects of concussions, particularly in contact sport athletes, have been previously linked by changes in neuronal mental health and biomarker changes.
Lipid dysregulation has emerged as a potential contributor to neuronal injury and may serve as a measurable biomarker of brain pathology. Heavily concussed rugby athletes exhibited significantly lower serum 24-HC and significantly higher levels of 27-HC, triglycerides, and ceramide compared to controls in retirement, while no significant difference was observed for 25-HC.
These findings indicate that repeated concussion is associated with reductions in cognitive performance and persistent alterations in serum lipid profiles. The observed lipid changes, particularly in 24-HC, 27-HC, ceramide, and triglycerides, may serve as further measurable biomarkers of concussion-related biochemical alterations, providing a foundation for future studies aimed at monitoring neurological health in an at-risk population.