World-First brain WOF launched at AUT
A world-leading warrant of fitness for the brain, which will identify long-term health risks, has been developed by the Auckland University of Technology.
Led by Professor Patria Hume and Professor Alice Theadom, the research is the second multi-year collaboration between AUT and global healthcare company Abbott.
The team is now recruiting participants for the study so wants to hear from anyone aged 25 to 70 who has been exposed to repeated impacts to the head at any time during their lives. This could include sportspeople (e.g., football, basketball, rugby), military personnel, or people who have experienced domestic violence.
The researchers will examine modifiable risk factors which impact participants’ brain health including blood pressure, diabetes, hearing, alcohol use, mood, physical activity, social connection, cholesterol, vision, body physique, smoking, exposure to air pollution, history of head injuries, sleep, and education.
All results are confidential with individual reports provided back to participants, for potential follow-up with their GPs. Only de-identified group data will be reported in publications. Participants can find out more and sign up via Women’s health and neuroscience research programme - SPRINZ - AUT
“Brain health problems don’t suddenly appear later in life, they build silently over decades. The Brain-WOFTM measures early risk factors for brain decline, most of which are modifiable. Using objective tools of blood biomarkers, body imaging, balance and cognition, we can detect risk before many symptoms start. This shifts brain health from crisis care to early detection, prevention, and action. The Brain-WOFTM gives people knowledge and knowledge gives choice” says Professor Hume.
“We aim to provide prospective and objective measures that detect early changes in brain functioning so that people can make changes to help maintain their brain health.”
Dr Beth McQuiston, Senior Global Neuroscience Medical Director for Abbott’s diagnostics business, says “impacts to brain health can be tracked and optimised by assessing signals measured in the blood long before symptoms appear. In Brain-WOFTM, we use advanced Abbott assays to measure hormones, vitamins, lipids, inflammation and brain specific biomarkers.
“These blood tests help clinicians identify protective factors like optimal vitamin status, hormone balance, and metabolic health that support brain resilience. They also flag early risk, to help optimise brain health and course correction. This helps clinicians transform brain health assessment from subjective guesswork to objective, actionable information. The Brain-WOFTM helps people understand their biology and take steps to protect and optimise brain health.”
Professor Theadom says: “There are many people who have been exposed to repeated head impacts who are worried about developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) or dementia. We want to assess them to find out where they are currently at and to explore how their exposure to head impacts and concussion over their lifetime is contributing to their long-term brain health.”
Abbott is part-funding the research and the team hope to examine at least 250 people in the first stage.
The first AUT-Abbott collaboration, which began last year, is looking at how people recover from a single concussion, while this study is looking at exposure to repetitive head injuries including subconcussive injuries over a lifetime.
“We’re talking about people who have had multiple impacts to the head and/or concussions, so we expect a lot of participants from contact sports but also want people who have been injured through work or ongoing violence,” says Professor Theadom.
“While there is other research going on around the world looking at the long-term impacts of brain injuries, our point of difference is we are looking at the impact of what happens over a person’s lifetime, not just impact of playing a particular sport.
“By exploring how much exposure to head impacts affects how people think and remember things in relation to other brain health factors will enable us to help people know what their risk is and how they can reduce it,” she says.
Useful links
- Women’s health and neuroscience research programme
- Brain Health Research Institute
- Bachelor of Sport, Exercise and Health
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