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Bouvette V, Petit Y, De Beaumont L, Guay S, Vinet SA, Wagnac E. American Football On-Field Head Impact Kinematics: Influence of Acceleration Signal Characteristics on Peak Maximal Principal Strain. Ann Biomed Eng 2024; 52:2134-2150. [PMID: 38758459 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03514-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Recorded head kinematics from head-impact measurement devices (HIMd) are pivotal for evaluating brain stress and strain through head finite element models (hFEM). The variability in kinematic recording windows across HIMd presents challenges as they yield inconsistent hFEM responses. Despite establishing an ideal recording window for maximum principal strain (MPS) in brain tissue, uncertainties persist about the impact characteristics influencing vulnerability when this window is shortened. This study aimed to scrutinize factors within impact kinematics affecting the reliability of different recording windows on whole-brain peak MPS using a validated hFEM. Utilizing 53 on-field head impacts recorded via an instrumented mouthguard during a Canadian varsity football game, 10 recording windows were investigated with varying pre- and post-impact-trigger durations. Tukey pair-wise comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences in MPS responses for the different recording windows. However, specific impacts showed marked variability up to 40%. It was found, through correlation analyses, that impacts with lower peak linear acceleration exhibited greater response variability across different pre-trigger durations. Signal shape, analyzed through spectral analysis, influenced the time required for MPS development, resulting in specific impacts requiring a prolonged post-trigger duration. This study adds to the existing consensus on standardizing HIMd acquisition time windows and sheds light on impact characteristics leading to peak MPS variation across different head impact kinematic recording windows. Considering impact characteristics in research assessments is crucial, as certain impacts, affected by recording duration, may lead to significant errors in peak MPS responses during cumulative longitudinal exposure assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Bouvette
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada.
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Montreal, Canada.
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Marseille, France.
| | - Y Petit
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Montreal, Canada
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Marseille, France
| | - L De Beaumont
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - S Guay
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - S A Vinet
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - E Wagnac
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC, H3C 1K3, Canada
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Montreal, Canada
- International Laboratory on Spine Imaging and Biomechanics, Marseille, France
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2
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Jung LB, Wiegand TLT, Tuz-Zahra F, Tripodis Y, Iliff JJ, Piantino J, Arciniega H, Kim CL, Pankatz L, Bouix S, Lin AP, Alosco ML, Daneshvar DH, Mez J, Sepehrband F, Rathi Y, Pasternak O, Coleman MJ, Adler CH, Bernick C, Balcer L, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Stern RA, Shenton ME, Koerte IK. Repetitive Head Impacts and Perivascular Space Volume in Former American Football Players. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2428687. [PMID: 39186275 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) is associated with increased risk for neurodegeneration. Accumulation of toxic proteins due to impaired brain clearance is suspected to play a role. Objective To investigate whether perivascular space (PVS) volume is associated with lifetime exposure to RHI in individuals at risk for RHI-associated neurodegeneration. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study was part of the Diagnostics, Imaging, and Genetics Network for the Objective Study and Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (DIAGNOSE CTE) Research Project, a 7-year multicenter study consisting of 4 US study sites. Data were collected from September 2016 to February 2020 and analyses were performed between May 2021 and October 2023. After controlling for magnetic resonance image (MRI) and processing quality, former American football players and unexposed asymptomatic control participants were included in analyses. Exposure Prior exposure to RHI while participating in American football was estimated using the 3 cumulative head impact indices (CHII-G, linear acceleration; CHII-R, rotational acceleration; and CHII, number of head impacts). Main Outcomes and Measures Individual PVS volume was calculated in the white matter of structural MRI. Cognitive impairment was based on neuropsychological assessment. Linear regression models were used to assess associations of PVS volume with neuropsychological assessments in former American football players. All analyses were adjusted for confounders associated with PVS volume. Results Analyses included 224 participants (median [IQR] age, 57 [51-65] years), with 170 male former football players (114 former professional athletes, 56 former collegiate athletes) and 54 male unexposed control participants. Former football players had larger PVS volume compared with the unexposed group (mean difference, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.00-0.56]; P = .05). Within the football group, PVS volume was associated with higher CHII-R (β = 2.71 × 10-8 [95% CI, 0.50 × 10-8 to 4.93 × 10-8]; P = .03) and CHII-G (β = 2.24 × 10-6 [95% CI, 0.35 × 10-6 to 4.13 × 10-6]; P = .03). Larger PVS volume was also associated with worse performance on cognitive functioning in former American football players (β = -0.74 [95% CI, -1.35 to -0.13]; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that impaired perivascular brain clearance, as indicated by larger PVS volume, may contribute to the association observed between RHI exposure and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard B Jung
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Tim L T Wiegand
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Fatima Tuz-Zahra
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey J Iliff
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
- VISN 20 Northwest Network Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Juan Piantino
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland
| | - Hector Arciniega
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Cara L Kim
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Lara Pankatz
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Sylvain Bouix
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Département de génie logiciel et TI, École de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexander P Lin
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Farshid Sepehrband
- Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Yogesh Rathi
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Ofer Pasternak
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J Coleman
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles H Adler
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona
| | - Charles Bernick
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada
| | - Laura Balcer
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Pam Quirk Brain Health and Biomarker Laboratory, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
| | - Eric M Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Translational Genomics Research Institute, and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Inga K Koerte
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
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3
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Warren JR, Rumore G. The association between playing professional American football and longevity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308867120. [PMID: 37903248 PMCID: PMC10636321 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308867120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research concludes that professional American football players (hereafter, "football players") live longer than American men in general, despite experiencing higher rates of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This suggests that the longevity-enhancing benefits of playing football (e.g., physical fitness, money) outweigh the costs associated with CTE, CVD, and other longevity detriments of playing football. However, these surprising results may be the consequence of flawed research design. To investigate, we conducted two analyses. In analysis 1, we compared a) all professional American football players whose first season was 1986 or between 1988 and 1995 to b) a random sample of same-age American men observed as part of the National Health Interview Surveys in those same years selected on good health, at least 3 y of college, and not being poor. The exposure consists of playing one or more games of professional football; the outcome is risk of death within 25 y. In analysis 2, we use data on 1,365 men drafted to play in the (American) National Football League in the 1950s-906 of whom ultimately played professional football, and 459 of whom never played a game in any professional league. We estimate the association between playing football and survival through early 2023. In both analyses, we investigate differences between linemen and other position players. In contrast to most prior research, in both analyses, we find that linemen died earlier than otherwise similar men; men who played other positions died no earlier (or later).
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Affiliation(s)
- John Robert Warren
- Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
| | - Gina Rumore
- Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN55455
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4
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Bergstein VE, Shu HT, Bodendorfer BM, DeFroda S, Aiyer AA. Multiple Ankle Injuries Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Subsequent Concussion in National Football League Players. FOOT & ANKLE ORTHOPAEDICS 2023; 8:24730114231213372. [PMID: 38058976 PMCID: PMC10697033 DOI: 10.1177/24730114231213372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a gap in the literature regarding musculoskeletal risk factors for concussion within the National Football League (NFL), which is an avenue that must be explored to promote player safety given the high incidence of both injury types. This study aims to observe if ankle injuries are associated with an increased risk of subsequent concussion in NFL players. Methods The public online database ProFootballReference.com was used to identify ankle injuries and concussions in NFL players from the 2009-2010 to 2019-2020 seasons. Multivariable logistic regression for subsequent concussion and ankle injury was performed, adjusting for body mass index (BMI), age, and player position. For descriptive statistics, unpaired t tests with unequal variance were performed for continuous variables, including BMI and age. χ2 testing was performed for categorical variables, including player position, and whether the position was offensive, defensive, or on special teams. Results Of the 5538 NFL players included in the study, 941 had an ankle injury, 633 had a concussion, and 240 had both an ankle injury and a subsequent concussion. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for concussion following a single ankle injury was 0.90 (95% CI 0.72-1.14, P = .387); however, the aOR for concussion following multiple ankle injuries was 2.87 (95% CI 1.23-6.75, P = .015). Special teams players had the lowest risk for concussion (aOR 0.17, 95% CI 0.069-0.36, P < .001) following ankle injury, and there was no significant difference in risk between offense and defense (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.77-1.08, P = .295). Conclusion Multiple ankle injuries were associated with an increased risk of a subsequent concussion after adjusting for BMI; player position; and offense, defense, or special teams designation. These findings can inform injury prevention practices in the National Football League. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry T. Shu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Steven DeFroda
- Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, University of Missouri Healthcare, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Amiethab A. Aiyer
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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5
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Daneshvar DH, Nair ES, Baucom ZH, Rasch A, Abdolmohammadi B, Uretsky M, Saltiel N, Shah A, Jarnagin J, Baugh CM, Martin BM, Palmisano JN, Cherry JD, Alvarez VE, Huber BR, Weuve J, Nowinski CJ, Cantu RC, Zafonte RD, Dwyer B, Crary JF, Goldstein LE, Kowall NW, Katz DI, Stern RA, Tripodis Y, Stein TD, McClean MD, Alosco ML, McKee AC, Mez J. Leveraging football accelerometer data to quantify associations between repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy in males. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3470. [PMID: 37340004 PMCID: PMC10281995 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39183-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy associated with repetitive head impacts (RHI), but the components of RHI exposure underlying this relationship are unclear. We create a position exposure matrix (PEM), composed of American football helmet sensor data, summarized from literature review by player position and level of play. Using this PEM, we estimate measures of lifetime RHI exposure for a separate cohort of 631 football playing brain donors. Separate models examine the relationship between CTE pathology and players' concussion count, athletic positions, years of football, and PEM-derived measures, including estimated cumulative head impacts, linear accelerations, and rotational accelerations. Only duration of play and PEM-derived measures are significantly associated with CTE pathology. Models incorporating cumulative linear or rotational acceleration have better model fit and are better predictors of CTE pathology than duration of play or cumulative head impacts alone. These findings implicate cumulative head impact intensity in CTE pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mass General Brigham-Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Evan S Nair
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary H Baucom
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abigail Rasch
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bobak Abdolmohammadi
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madeline Uretsky
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Saltiel
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arsal Shah
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Johnny Jarnagin
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine M Baugh
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Brett M Martin
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph N Palmisano
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cherry
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Bertrand R Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Weuve
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J Nowinski
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Ross D Zafonte
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mass General Brigham-Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brigid Dwyer
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lee E Goldstein
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas I Katz
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael D McClean
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research and CTE Centers, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Iverson GL, Castellani RJ, Cassidy JD, Schneider GM, Schneider KJ, Echemendia RJ, Bailes JE, Hayden KA, Koerte IK, Manley GT, McNamee M, Patricios JS, Tator CH, Cantu RC, Dvorak J. Examining later-in-life health risks associated with sport-related concussion and repetitive head impacts: a systematic review of case-control and cohort studies. Br J Sports Med 2023; 57:810-821. [PMID: 37316187 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Concern exists about possible problems with later-in-life brain health, such as cognitive impairment, mental health problems and neurological diseases, in former athletes. We examined the future risk for adverse health effects associated with sport-related concussion, or exposure to repetitive head impacts, in former athletes. DESIGN Systematic review. DATA SOURCES Search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus in October 2019 and updated in March 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Studies measuring future risk (cohort studies) or approximating that risk (case-control studies). RESULTS Ten studies of former amateur athletes and 18 studies of former professional athletes were included. No postmortem neuropathology studies or neuroimaging studies met criteria for inclusion. Depression was examined in five studies in former amateur athletes, none identifying an increased risk. Nine studies examined suicidality or suicide as a manner of death, and none found an association with increased risk. Some studies comparing professional athletes with the general population reported associations between sports participation and dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a cause of death. Most did not control for potential confounding factors (eg, genetic, demographic, health-related or environmental), were ecological in design and had high risk of bias. CONCLUSION Evidence does not support an increased risk of mental health or neurological diseases in former amateur athletes with exposure to repetitive head impacts. Some studies in former professional athletes suggest an increased risk of neurological disorders such as ALS and dementia; these findings need to be confirmed in higher quality studies with better control of confounding factors. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022159486.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Iverson
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schoen Adams Research Institute at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rudolph J Castellani
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J David Cassidy
- Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geoff M Schneider
- Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kathryn J Schneider
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ruben J Echemendia
- Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- University Orthopedic Centre, Concussion Care Clinic, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julian E Bailes
- Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - K Alix Hayden
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Inga K Koerte
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey T Manley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael McNamee
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Jon S Patricios
- Wits Sport and Health (WiSH), School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Charles H Tator
- Department of Surgery and Division of Neurosurgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Robert C. Cantu Concussion Center, Emerson Hospital, Concord, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiri Dvorak
- Schulthess Clinic Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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Phelps A, Alosco ML, Baucom Z, Hartlage K, Palmisano JN, Weuve J, Mez J, Tripodis Y, Stern RA. Association of Playing College American Football With Long-term Health Outcomes and Mortality. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e228775. [PMID: 35442450 PMCID: PMC9021915 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.8775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Exposure to repetitive head impacts from playing American football (including impacts resulting in symptomatic concussions and subconcussive trauma) is associated with increased risk for later-life health problems, including cognitive and neuropsychiatric decline and neurodegenerative disease. Most research on long-term health consequences of playing football has focused on former professional athletes, with limited studies of former college players. OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of self-reported health conditions among former college football players compared with a sample of men in the general population as well as standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) among former college football players. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study included data from 447 former University of Notre Dame (ND) football players aged 59 to 75 years who were seniors on the rosters from 1964 to 1980. A health outcomes survey was distributed to living players and next of kin of deceased players for whom contact information was available. The survey was completed from December 2018 to May 2019. EXPOSURE Participation in football at ND. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prevalence of health outcomes was compared between living former players who completed the survey and propensity score-matched participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Standardized mortality ratios of all causes and specific causes of death among all former players were compared with those among men in the general US population. RESULTS A total of 216 living players completed the health survey (median age, 67 years; IQR, 63-70 years) and were compared with 638 participants in the HRS (median age, 66 years; IQR, 63-70 years). Former players reported a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (10 [5%] vs 8 [1%]; P = .02), headaches (22 [10%] vs 22 [4%]; P = .001), cardiovascular disease (70 [33%] vs 128 [20%]; P = .001), hypercholesterolemia (111 [52%] vs 182 [29%]; P = .001), and alcohol use (185 [86%] vs 489 [77%]; P = .02) and a lower prevalence of diabetes (24 [11%] vs 146 [23%]; P = .001). All-cause mortality (SMR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.42-0.67) and mortality from heart (SMR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.39-0.99), circulatory (SMR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.03-0.83), respiratory (SMR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.00-0.70), and digestive system (SMR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.00-0.74) disorders; lung cancer (SMR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.05-0.77); and violence (SMR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.00-0.58) were significantly lower in the ND cohort than in the general population. Mortality from brain and other nervous system cancers was significantly higher in the ND cohort (SMR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.04-9.77). Whereas point estimates were greater for all neurodegenerative causes (SMR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.29-4.18), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SMR, 2.93; 95% CI, 0.36-10.59), and Parkinson disease (SMR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.05-11.55), the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study of former college football players, both positive and negative health outcomes were observed. With more than 800 000 former college players living in the US, additional research appears to be needed to provide stakeholders with guidance to maximize factors that improve health outcomes and minimize factors that may increase risk for later-life morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Phelps
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L. Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zachary Baucom
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kaitlin Hartlage
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph N. Palmisano
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer Weuve
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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8
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Tierney G. Concussion biomechanics, head acceleration exposure and brain injury criteria in sport: a review. Sports Biomech 2021:1-29. [PMID: 34939531 DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2021.2016929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
There are mounting concerns surrounding the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and complications associated with concussion incidence and repetitive head acceleration events (HAE) in sport. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of concussion biomechanics, head acceleration exposure and brain injury criteria in sport. Rotational head motion appears to be the primary contributor to brain injury risk due to the unique mechanical properties of the brain and its location within the body. There is a growing evidence base of different biomechanical brain injury mechanisms, including those involving repetitive HAE. Historically, many studies on concussion biomechanics, head acceleration exposure and brain injury criteria in sport have been limited by validity of the biomechanical approaches undertaken. Biomechanical approaches such as instrumented mouthguards and subject-specific finite element (FE) brain models provide a unique opportunity to develop greater brain injury criteria and aid in on-field athlete removal. Implementing these approaches on a large-scale can gain insight into potential risk factors within sports and certain athletes/cohorts who sustain a greater number and/or severity of HAE throughout their playing career. These findings could play a key role in the development of concussion prevention strategies and techniques that mitigate the severity of HAE in sport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Tierney
- Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, School of Sport, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Belfast, UK
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Walia B, Kmush BL, Ehrlich J, Mackowski M, Sanders S. Age at League Entry and Early All-Cause Mortality among National Football League Players. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182413356. [PMID: 34948966 PMCID: PMC8706978 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background: A growing body of research suggests that American football players are exposed to higher cumulative head impact risk as competition level rises. Related literature finds that head impacts absorbed by youth, adolescent, and emerging adult players are associated with elevated risk of long-term health problems (e.g., neurodegenerative disease onset). Most National Football League (NFL) players enter the League as emerging adults (18–24 years old), a period of continued cognitive and overall physical development. However, no prior research has studied the effect of age-at-entry on long-term NFL player health. Hypothesis/Purpose: This study assesses whether early NFL player age-at-entry is associated with increased risk of early all-cause mortality, controlling for player position, BMI, year-of-entry, birth year, and NFL Draft round (expected ability upon League entry). Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included 9049 players who entered the NFL from 1970–2017 and subsequently played at least one game. The variables whether deceased, age-at-death, age-at-entry, and controls were collected from Pro Football Reference website, a leading data site for American football that has been used extensively in the literature. Data collection began on 13 July 2017, and follow-up ended on 1 July 2018. Statistical analysis was performed from 10 March 2020 to 3 August 2020. Data was validated by checking a large sub-sample of data points against alternative sources such as NFL.com and NFLsavant.com. Methods: Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine variation in death hazard by NFL player age-at-entry, conditional upon a full set of controls. Results: Conditional on controls, Cox regression results indicate that a one-year increase in age-at-entry was significantly associated with a 14% decreased hazard-of-death (H.R., 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74–0.98). Among relatively young entering players, the increased hazard appears to be concentrated in the first quartile of players by age at League entry (20.2 to 22.3 years). Players not in this quartile exhibited a decreased hazard-of-death (H.R., 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57–0.97) compared with players who entered at a relatively young (first quartile) age. Conclusion: An earlier age-at-entry is associated with an increased hazard-of-death among NFL players. Currently, the NFL regulates age-at-entry only indirectly by requiring players to be 3 years removed from high school before becoming NFL Draft-eligible. Implementing a minimum age at entry for NFL players of 22 years and 4 months at beginning of season is expected to result in reduced mortality. What is known about this subject? There are no prior studies on the effects of NFL player age-at-entry on early mortality risk. What this study adds to existing knowledge: This study determines whether entering the NFL at an age of physical and physiological development is related to early mortality risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavneet Walia
- Department of Public Health, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA; (B.W.); (B.L.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Brittany L. Kmush
- Department of Public Health, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA; (B.W.); (B.L.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Justin Ehrlich
- Department of Sport Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA;
| | - Madeline Mackowski
- Department of Public Health, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA; (B.W.); (B.L.K.); (M.M.)
| | - Shane Sanders
- Department of Sport Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-315-443-0234
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Daneshvar DH, Mez J, Alosco ML, Baucom ZH, Mahar I, Baugh CM, Valle JP, Weuve J, Paganoni S, Cantu RC, Zafonte RD, Stern RA, Stein TD, Tripodis Y, Nowinski CJ, McKee AC. Incidence of and Mortality From Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in National Football League Athletes. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2138801. [PMID: 34910152 PMCID: PMC8674746 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.38801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Importance Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease; understanding ALS risk factors is a critical public health issue. Objectives To evaluate the incidence of and mortality from ALS in National Football League (NFL) athletes and to describe characteristics associated with ALS within this cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study included all 19 423 NFL athletes who debuted between 1960 and 2019 and played 1 or more professional game. It was conducted between October 3, 2020, and July 19, 2021. Exposure Participation in the NFL, including playing 1 or more professional games. Main Outcomes and Measures Cases of ALS and death information were identified based on public records from NFL statistics aggregators, news reports, obituaries, and National Death Index results. The standardized incidence ratio and the standardized mortality ratio were calculated based on data acquired from surveillance studies of ALS accounting for age, sex, and race. Secondary analyses examined the association of body mass index, NFL career duration, race, birth location, and markers of fame, using a nested case-control design, matching athletes with ALS to athletes without ALS, by NFL debut year. Results A total of 19 423 male former and current NFL players (age range, 23-78 years) were included in this cohort study and were followed up for a cumulative 493 168 years (mean [SD] follow-up, 30.6 [13.7] years). Thirty-eight players received a diagnosis of ALS, and 28 died during the study time frame, representing a significantly higher incidence of ALS diagnosis (standardized incidence ratio, 3.59; 95% CI, 2.58-4.93) and mortality (standardized mortality ratio, 3.94; 95% CI, 2.62-5.69) among NFL players compared with the US male population, adjusting for age and race. Among NFL athletes, nested-case-control analyses found that those who received a diagnosis of ALS had significantly longer careers (mean [SD] duration, 7.0 [3.9] years) than athletes without ALS (mean [SD] duration, 4.5 [3.6] years; odds ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3). There were no differences in ALS status based on proxies of NFL fame, body mass index, position played, birth location, or race. Conclusions and Relevance The age-, sex-, and race-adjusted incidence of and mortality from ALS among all NFL players who debuted between 1960 and 2019 were nearly 4 times as high as those of the general population. Athletes with a diagnosis of ALS had longer NFL careers than those without ALS, suggesting an association between NFL duration of play and ALS. The identification of these risk factors for ALS helps to inform the study of pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this fatal neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H. Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L. Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zachary H. Baucom
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ian Mahar
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christine M. Baugh
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
| | | | - Jennifer Weuve
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Sean M Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Robert C. Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, Massachusetts
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ross D. Zafonte
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christopher J. Nowinski
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, Massachusetts
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Centers, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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11
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Morales JS, Valenzuela PL, Saco-Ledo G, Castillo-García A, Carabias CS, McCrory P, Santos-Lozano A, Lucia A. Mortality Risk from Neurodegenerative Disease in Sports Associated with Repetitive Head Impacts: Preliminary Findings from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 2021; 52:835-846. [PMID: 34674184 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-021-01580-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Professional athletes seem to have a lower overall mortality risk than the general population, but controversy exists about whether athletes in sports associated with repetitive head impacts have a higher risk of mortality from neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the risk of mortality from neurodegenerative diseases in sports associated with repeated head impacts compared with the general population or compared with athletes with no such exposure. METHODS We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis, systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus (since inception to 14 May 2021) for studies comparing the risk of death from neurodegenerative disease in athletes participating in contact sports in which their heads recurrently receive blows from the bodies of other participants or from a ball versus a control group or dataset representing the general population. RESULTS Six moderate- to high-quality retrospective studies including data from 41,699 athletes participating in contact sports (boxing, basketball, ice hockey, American Football and soccer) met all inclusion criteria to be included in the systematic review. Of these, three studies (N = 37,065 male professional soccer players) could be meta-analysed. Despite no differences in the risk of all-cause (p = 0.138), cardiovascular (p = 0.085) and cancer-related mortality (p = 0.136), soccer players presented with a significantly higher mortality risk from motor neuron disease (standard mortality rate 8.43; 95% confidence interval 3.07-23.13; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although more research is needed (particularly in other contact sports and with neurodegenerative disease as the cause of death), preliminary evidence suggests that participation in professional soccer might increase the risk of mortality from motor neuron disease compared with the general population. The present findings highlight the need for the design of preventive measures and for adequate neuropsychological monitoring in these athletes. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CRD42020195647.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier S Morales
- MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, Spain
| | - Pedro L Valenzuela
- Physical Activity and Health Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital '12 de Octubre' ('imas12', PaHerg), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Saco-Ledo
- Bioenergy and Motion Analysis Laboratory, National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH), Burgos, Spain
| | | | - Cristina S Carabias
- Neurotraumatology and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul McCrory
- Traumatic Brain Injury Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre-Austin Campus, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Alejandro Santos-Lozano
- Physical Activity and Health Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital '12 de Octubre' ('imas12', PaHerg), Madrid, Spain.,I+HeALTH, Department of Health Sciences, European University Miguel de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lucia
- Physical Activity and Health Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital '12 de Octubre' ('imas12', PaHerg), Madrid, Spain. .,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670, Madrid, Spain.
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12
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Alosco ML, Mariani ML, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Au R, Banks SJ, Barr WB, Bouix S, Cantu RC, Coleman MJ, Dodick DW, Farrer LA, Geda YE, Katz DI, Koerte IK, Kowall NW, Lin AP, Marcus DS, Marek KL, McClean MD, McKee AC, Mez J, Palmisano JN, Peskind ER, Tripodis Y, Turner RW, Wethe JV, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Shenton ME, Stern RA. Developing methods to detect and diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy during life: rationale, design, and methodology for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. Alzheimers Res Ther 2021; 13:136. [PMID: 34384490 PMCID: PMC8357968 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00872-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease that has been neuropathologically diagnosed in brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts, including boxers and American football, soccer, ice hockey, and rugby players. CTE cannot yet be diagnosed during life. In December 2015, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke awarded a seven-year grant (U01NS093334) to fund the "Diagnostics, Imaging, and Genetics Network for the Objective Study and Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (DIAGNOSE CTE) Research Project." The objectives of this multicenter project are to: develop in vivo fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers for CTE; characterize its clinical presentation; refine and validate clinical research diagnostic criteria (i.e., traumatic encephalopathy syndrome [TES]); examine repetitive head impact exposure, genetic, and other risk factors; and provide shared resources of anonymized data and biological samples to the research community. In this paper, we provide a detailed overview of the rationale, design, and methods for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project. METHODS The targeted sample and sample size was 240 male participants, ages 45-74, including 120 former professional football players, 60 former collegiate football players, and 60 asymptomatic participants without a history of head trauma or participation in organized contact sports. Participants were evaluated at one of four U.S. sites and underwent the following baseline procedures: neurological and neuropsychological examinations; tau and amyloid positron emission tomography; magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy; lumbar puncture; blood and saliva collection; and standardized self-report measures of neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and daily functioning. Study partners completed similar informant-report measures. Follow-up evaluations were intended to be in-person and at 3 years post-baseline. Multidisciplinary diagnostic consensus conferences are held, and the reliability and validity of TES diagnostic criteria are examined. RESULTS Participant enrollment and all baseline evaluations were completed in February 2020. Three-year follow-up evaluations began in October 2019. However, in-person evaluation ceased with the COVID-19 pandemic, and resumed as remote, 4-year follow-up evaluations (including telephone-, online-, and videoconference-based cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neurologic examinations, as well as in-home blood draw) in February 2021. CONCLUSIONS Findings from the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project should facilitate detection and diagnosis of CTE during life, and thereby accelerate research on risk factors, mechanisms, epidemiology, treatment, and prevention of CTE. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02798185.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan L Mariani
- Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles H Adler
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Laura J Balcer
- Departments of Neurology, Population Health and Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles Bernick
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rhoda Au
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Framingham Heart Study, and Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Anatomy & Neurobiology and Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah J Banks
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - William B Barr
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sylvain Bouix
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael J Coleman
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David W Dodick
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Lindsay A Farrer
- Departments of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Neurology, Ophthalmology, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, BU Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yonas E Geda
- Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Douglas I Katz
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Encompass Health Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Inga K Koerte
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander P Lin
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel S Marcus
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kenneth L Marek
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Invicro, LLC, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael D McClean
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Framingham Heart Study, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph N Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elaine R Peskind
- VA Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert W Turner
- Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jennifer V Wethe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Eric M Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Translational Genomics Research Institute, and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Pickett B, Bytomski JR, Zafonte RD. Evidence based management of sports related concussion. J Osteopath Med 2021; 121:499-502. [PMID: 33831982 DOI: 10.1515/jom-2021-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Sports related concussion (SRC) is a common condition evaluated by healthcare professionals. In an article entitled "Return to Play After Concussion: Clinical Guidelines for Young Athletes" published in the December 2019 issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, guidelines for the management of SRC were presented to assist healthcare professionals in the management of patients with SRC. However, much of the information presented in that article is contradicted by current expert recommendations and evidence based practice guidelines. The management of SRC has evolved to a nuanced, domain driven diagnosis requiring a multidisciplinary treatment team and a customized management plan for each patient to ensure competent treatment of patients with SRC. As such, this Commentary summarizes current recommendations for diagnosis and management of SRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent Pickett
- James R. Urbaniak, MD, Sports Sciences Institute, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Bytomski
- James R. Urbaniak, MD, Sports Sciences Institute, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ross D Zafonte
- Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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Miller LE, Urban JE, Davenport EM, Powers AK, Whitlow CT, Maldjian JA, Stitzel JD. Brain Strain: Computational Model-Based Metrics for Head Impact Exposure and Injury Correlation. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1083-1096. [PMID: 33258089 PMCID: PMC10032321 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02685-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Athletes participating in contact sports are exposed to repetitive subconcussive head impacts that may have long-term neurological consequences. To better understand these impacts and their effects, head impacts are often measured during football to characterize head impact exposure and estimate injury risk. Despite widespread use of kinematic-based metrics, it remains unclear whether any single metric derived from head kinematics is well-correlated with measurable changes in the brain. This shortcoming has motivated the increasing use of finite element (FE)-based metrics, which quantify local brain deformations. Additionally, quantifying cumulative exposure is of increased interest to examine the relationship to brain changes over time. The current study uses the atlas-based brain model (ABM) to predict the strain response to impacts sustained by 116 youth football athletes and proposes 36 new, or derivative, cumulative strain-based metrics that quantify the combined burden of head impacts over the course of a season. The strain-based metrics developed and evaluated for FE modeling and presented in the current study present potential for improved analytics over existing kinematically-based and cumulative metrics. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of accounting for directional dependence and expand the techniques to explore spatial distribution of the strain response throughout the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
| | - Jillian E Urban
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Davenport
- Department of Radiology, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Alexander K Powers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Christopher T Whitlow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Joseph A Maldjian
- Department of Radiology, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Joel D Stitzel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech - Wake Forest University, 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite 530, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
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15
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Incorrect Date in the Methods Section. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2010560. [PMID: 32484549 PMCID: PMC7267845 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.10560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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