The Concussion Action ToolKit: A Novel Post-Injury Toolkit to Address Neuro-inflammation and Support Recovery Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Background and/or Objectives: Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), commonly referred to as concussions, affect millions annually, accounting for approximately 85% of all TBIs. Despite this, mTBIs are frequently underreported and inadequately managed, with most guidelines recommending only rest and gradual return to activity. However, emerging evidence suggests that mTBIs can result in persistent neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, and structural brain changes. There remains a critical need for a structured, evidence-informed response framework that addresses early pathophysiological mechanisms of concussion. This study proposes the development of the Concussion Action ToolKit (CAT)—an algorithm-driven intervention toolkit for early mTBI care.

Design: Conceptual framework development based on literature synthesis and clinical heuristics. The CAT integrates existing peer-reviewed evidence on early post-concussion interventions, targeting neuro-inflammation, cerebral perfusion, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Setting : Community-based application model for public use, with adaptability for clinical triage environments.

Participants : Not applicable (conceptual framework phase). Future phases will include pilot testing among adolescents and adults with recent mTBIs.

Interventions: The CAT includes decision-tree algorithms guiding: Emergency care triage, Nutritional and anti-inflammatory support (e.g., omega-3s, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) ), Dietary recommendations, Topical agents (e.g., glutathione cream), Photobiomodulation protocols, Environmental modifications, Mindfulness recommendations

Main Outcome Measures: Preliminary feasibility and utility metrics: time to symptom resolution, user adherence, rate of emergency care visits, and subjective recovery quality.

Results: This abstract presents the CAT framework. The proposed framework demonstrates theoretical alignment with current TBI pathophysiology research and addresses a significant care gap in the immediate post-injury window.

Conclusions: The CAT provides a novel, structured framework for addressing mTBI at the earliest stage—empowering individuals and clinicians with evidence-informed tools. By targeting the neuro-inflammatory cascade promptly, the CAT has the potential to mitigate long-term sequelae and shift recovery trajectories for those affected by concussions.