Accurate clinical diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is limited by assumptions of underlying pathophysiology based on external examination, self-reporting, and limited imaging capabilities. Translational research bridges pathophysiology from animal models to address clinical uncertainty. These studies have been crucial to understanding underlying mechanistic events in greater detail and in identifying putative therapeutic targets and strategies. However, the clinical unknowns and attempts to understand them through translational research inevitably lead to disconnects between translational models and clinical reality. Contributing factors include the validity of animal models of mTBI and what information can be reliably extrapolated to human pathophysiology. Accurate diagnosis for an injury that can manifest as subclinical not only presents a significant hurdle in determining the epidemiological magnitude of mTBI but also presents technical difficulties in translational model building. This chapter highlights efforts in translational and clinical research to address the complex and heterogeneous challenges of mTBI.
Commentary on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Research Needs in the General Population
