The Association Between Head Cooling and Cognition, Neuroinflammatory Cytokines, Menstrual Cycle, Sleep Patterns, Mental Health and Concussions
Penn State University
Summary
This research is being done to examine the benefits of a 28 day head cooling intervention on cognition, inflammation of the brain, sleep quality, menstrual symptom interaction, and mood in acutely concussed females. Brain cooling has been shown to cause temporary symptom relief after traumatic brain injury, but its implications for decreasing timeline of full concussion recovery, particularly in females during periods of confounding neuropsychological menstrual symptoms, remains unexplored.
Description
Concussions are a form of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that can lead to prolonged physical, cognitive, emotional, neuroinflammatory symptoms. An increase in IL-6 levels is seen due to neuroinflammation following mTBI. Following a concussion, females are more likely to experience sleep disturbances. This can impact the number of headaches and mood changes they experience. Emerging evidence suggests that hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle may influence concussion recovery and symptoms specifically in the luteal phase. Head cooling, or localized cranial hypothermia, has been…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–27 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Require that any participant is 18-27 years old 2. Require that participants be English speakers 3. Require that participants are females 4. Require that persons be able to provide consent for themselves Exclusion Criteria: 1. Exclude persons under 18 years old or over 27 years old 2. Exclude persons taking anti-inflammatory drugs (both prescription and OTC), or those who will have taken them within 24 hours prior to Visit 1 3. Exclude smokers and former smokers, as defined by CDC. (Anyone who smokes daily or who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime) 4…
Interventions
- DeviceBrain Cooling
Brain cooling consists of a 30-minute seated period, in a dimly lit, quiet room, during which they will wear a Welkins Arctic Cooling Cap V1.30, set at a temperature of 33.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Participants will be asked to remain awake, refrain from observing a screen, and relax to the best of their ability. This brain cooling treatment will occur 5 days per week for 4 total weeks.
Location
- Recreation BuildingUniversity Park, Pennsylvania