Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), including sport-related concussion, has become a major health issue. Nearly 10% of mTBI patients (aged 0-18 years) are symptomatic with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) three months after injury. Persistent post-concussion symptoms often result in significant disability and family burden. However, the biological explanation for these prolonged PCS symptoms remains unclear.

Over half a million Canadian youth are registered in ice hockey leagues, and 10-20% of them get a concussion each year. The long-term effects of concussion and the best way to treat it are still unknown, especially in youth.