For the first time, researchers at Monash University have used blood tests to detect concussions caused by intimate partner violence (IPV), offering fresh insights into an often overlooked public health issue. The study, led by Monash in collaboration with Alfred Health, has highlighted the potential of blood biomarkers to uncover brain injuries that might otherwise go undiagnosed in IPV victims, some of whom also suffered non-fatal strangulation.
The research, published in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity, focused on patients who had experienced a concussion within 72 hours of their admission. The study revealed that these patients showed more severe symptoms and elevated levels of a specific blood biomarker compared to those who had not suffered a concussion, or whose concussions stemmed from other causes.
Among the IPV patients recruited for the study, 80 per cent were women, and 40 per cent had experienced a combination of strangulation and concussion. This dual injury has worrying implications for the long-term health of victims, especially considering how common head and neck injuries are in such assaults. IPV remains the leading cause of preventable death, disability, and illness among Australian women aged 15 to 44, with one in four having experienced violence from a partner.
The numbers are stark. In 2022–23, nearly 2,600 women were admitted to hospitals due to injuries from domestic assaults, with 12 per cent of those cases involving brain injuries. The link between head injuries and IPV has been clear for some time, but this new research offers a method to detect concussions that might otherwise remain hidden.
Professor Sandy Shultz, senior author of the study from the Monash University School of Translational Medicine, emphasised the importance of identifying these injuries early. Physical violence during IPV often targets the head and neck, making brain injury a prevalent yet underreported consequence. One of the greatest challenges in treating IPV-related concussions is the reluctance of victims to disclose their injuries, due to fear, memory loss, or the simple fact that the only witness is often the perpetrator.
Professor Shultz highlighted that this new blood test could be a valuable tool for healthcare providers, although consent from the patient would be essential before any test is performed. Early identification, he stressed, is key to preventing more severe outcomes, including death.
“What makes concussions in IPV particularly dangerous is that they frequently happen alongside strangulation and tend to occur repeatedly, which worsens the injury and the prognosis,” said Professor Shultz. The inability to rely on self-reporting or witness accounts in many IPV cases adds to the difficulty for medical professionals, which is why this new blood test could be revolutionary in detecting brain injuries early.
Funding for the current research is set to expire by the end of 2024, and the team is actively seeking new sources to expand their work into a national, multidisciplinary research program. Their future aims include developing additional brain injury detection methods, trialling interventions to aid recovery, and creating educational programs that could improve health outcomes for IPV survivors.
Co-first author Dr Georgia Symons noted that while sports concussions have recently drawn public attention, IPV-related concussions are just as common, if not more so, and pose their own unique challenges. “There are no mandatory stand-down periods in IPV,” Dr Symons remarked, underscoring the lack of consistent healthcare responses in comparison to sports-related concussions.
The study took an innovative approach by creating an animal model to simulate non-fatal strangulation and concussions in tandem, allowing the researchers to observe the effects of each injury independently and together. According to co-first author Dr Mujun Sun, their findings were alarming. When the animals experienced both injuries at once, they displayed more severe cognitive and motor issues, greater inflammation, and higher levels of brain injury markers in their blood.
These results suggest that blood biomarkers could be an effective way to identify hidden brain injuries in IPV victims. Strangulation, in particular, appears to exacerbate the damage caused by concussions, adding urgency to the need for better detection and treatment in clinical settings.
The team’s work not only advances our understanding of IPV-related injuries but also lays the groundwork for future research aimed at improving care for victims. However, continued funding and support will be crucial to seeing these advancements through to practical, widespread application.
The importance of detecting brain injuries early in IPV victims cannot be overstated, as early intervention could drastically alter patient outcomes and help prevent tragedies that might otherwise have been avoided.
Support independent community journalism. Support The Indian Sun.
Follow The Indian Sun on X | Instagram | Facebook
👩⚕️ @MonashUni researchers in collab with @AlfredHealth developed a #bloodtest to detect #concussions in intimate partner #violence victims, offering a new way to identify hidden brain injuries. 💉🧠 How could this transform healthcare? 👁️ #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/J0C4loZAPu
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) October 17, 2024
Donate To The Indian Sun
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun is an independent organisation committed to community journalism. We have, through the years, been able to reach a wide audience especially with the growth of social media, where we also have a strong presence. With platforms such as YouTube videos, we have been able to engage in different forms of storytelling. However, the past few years, like many media organisations around the world, it has not been an easy path. We have a greater challenge. We believe community journalism is very important for a multicultural country like Australia. We’re not able to do everything, but we aim for some of the most interesting stories and journalism of quality. We call upon readers like you to support us and make any contribution. Do make a DONATION NOW so we can continue with the volume and quality journalism that we are able to practice.
Thank you for your support.
Best wishes,
Team The Indian Sun
