A method for detection or monitoring status of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) in a subject is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises contacting a specimen of bodily fluid obtained from the subject with reagents for assaying for a marker of TBI selected from aldolase C (ALDOC) and brain lipid binding protein (BLBP), or a trauma-specific break down product (BDP) of ALDOC or BLBP. The method further comprises measuring the amount of marker present in the specimen as compared to a control sample, and determining the presence of TBI or SCI when an elevated amount of marker is present in the specimen compared to the control sample. The method can comprises measuring the amount of glutamine synthetase (GS), astrocytic phosphoprotein PEA-15 (PEA15), αB-crystallin (CRYAB/HSP27), a cleavage product of ALDOC, GS, PEA15, or CRYAB, or a combination of two or more thereof.
