Evaluating the Utility of Spasticity and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Predicting Neurologic and Motor Functional Recovery after SCI

This module project aims to assess the potential of spasticity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as biomarkers of neurologic and functional recovery in patients with subacute spinal cord injury (SCI). Accurate prediction of neurologic and functional recovery of individuals with SCI is important for clinical and research applications. The heterogeneous nature of SCI makes predicting long-term outcomes from initial characteristics a challenging task; yet, there is a pressing need to improve prediction of SCI recovery. Accumulating evidence suggest that spasticity is associated with better functional recovery and that residual descending connectivity is present in patients with motor severe SCI who have spasticity. In addition, BDNF promotes neuroplasticity after SCI and changes in levels of BDNF have been associated with functional recovery after SCI. We propose to assess spasticity and BDNF levels, which are measures that clinicians can obtain swiftly and with minimal patient discomfort and risk.