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Roberts M, Popovich M, Almeida A. The Evaluation and Management of Concussion to Optimize Safe Recovery. Prim Care 2024; 51:269-282. [PMID: 38692774 DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2024.02.009] [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] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury causing temporary neurologic dysfunction. Symptoms following concussion are variable and generally are expected to resolve within about 1 month, but some patients experience persistent and prolonged symptoms. An early return to safe, symptom-limited activity is now favored, using targeted rehabilitation and treatments. Accommodations may be needed to facilitate return-to-school and work following concussion. Athletes should not be cleared for a full return to sport until they have recovered from a concussion and completed a return-to-play progression, in addition to returning to work/school fully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Roberts
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 2901 Hubbard Road, Suite 2723, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michael Popovich
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 2901 Hubbard Road, Suite 2723, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Andrea Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 2901 Hubbard Road, Suite 2723, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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2
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Todd N. Medico-legal implications of dementia following concussion in rugby football. Med Leg J 2024; 92:91-95. [PMID: 38340786 DOI: 10.1177/00258172231184550] [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] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
There is litigation in respect of dementia in ex-rugby football players. The allegation is that these ex-players have suffered a traumatic encephalopathy syndrome causing dementia and other neurological problems. The syndrome is alleged to have been caused by repeated concussion during play. It is alleged that governing bodies of rugby should have been aware, and players should have been warned, of this risk. The dilemma, for both claimants and defendants, is that there is no agreed definition of the syndrome nor are there any diagnostic tests that confirm or refute this diagnosis. This paper reviews the literature of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome and when governing bodies were aware of the possibility of rugby concussion causing dementia. The legal principles are discussed and a framework for determining the probability of an ex-rugby player having the syndrome is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Todd
- Newcastle Nuffield Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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3
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Delfin D, Wallace J, Baez S, Karr JE, Terry DP, Hibbler T, Yengo-Kahn A, Newman S. Social Support, Stress, and Mental Health: Examining the Stress-Buffering Hypothesis in Adolescent Football Athletes. J Athl Train 2024; 59:499-505. [PMID: 38014810 PMCID: PMC11127675 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0324.23] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Football sport participation has been linked to both positive and negative effects on overall health. Social support, a network that provides individuals with resources to cope effectively, may positively influence one's stress and mental health. However, little research has been conducted on adolescent football players. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationships among social support, psychological stress, and mental health in adolescent football athletes. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING High school athletes during the precompetitive and postcompetitive football season in rural Alabama. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Black and African American adolescent athletes (N = 93) competing for a school-sponsored football team. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) After a competitive season, participants completed a battery of social support, psychological stress, and mental health symptom measures using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Application and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. The T-score means, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analyses were calculated. RESULTS Social support was negatively correlated with psychological stress (emotional support, r = -0.386; family relationships, r = -0.412; peer relationships, r = -0.265) and mental health (depression, r = -0.367 and r = -0.323 for emotional support and family relationships, respectively), whereas psychological stress and mental health (depression, r = 0.751; anxiety, r = 0.732) were positively correlated. In regression analyses, social support measures (ie, emotional support, family relationships, and peer relationships) were used to predict psychological stress (F = 7.094, P < .001, R2 = 0.191), depression symptoms (F = 5.323, P < .001, R2 = 0.151), and anxiety symptoms (F = 1.644, P = .190, R2 = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS In line with the stress-buffering hypothesis, social support in the form of family relationships and overall emotional support garnered through sport participation may reduce psychological stress and help to preserve the mental health of football athletes. These findings indicate that perceived social support may act as a positive resource for the coping of Black and African American adolescent athletes. Further research is warranted to understand the effects of stress and social support on the mental health of adolescents, particularly racial and ethnic minorities who are underrepresented in the athletic training literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danae Delfin
- School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Athletic Training Program, University of South Florida, Tampa
| | - Jessica Wallace
- Department of Health Science, Athletic Training Program, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
| | - Shelby Baez
- Department of Exercise & Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Justin E. Karr
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Nashville, TN
| | - Tamaria Hibbler
- Sports Medicine Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
| | - Aaron Yengo-Kahn
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Nashville, TN
| | - Sharlene Newman
- Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
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4
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Yoon S. Elder abuse victimization, mental health, and protective factors. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38497252 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2326992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated the association between elder abuse and depressive symptoms, as well as protective factors against adverse mental health outcomes from elder abuse. METHODS Participants were drawn from the 5928 graduates of the WLS, Wave 3 study (age range 70-73) who completed both in-person and telephone interviews. From this large group, 975 (16.4%) participants reported having experienced elder abuse and were included in the sample. Path analysis using Mplus was employed. RESULTS Elder abuse victimization was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, and those who had suffered multiple types of elder abuse experienced more severe mental health outcomes. However, both light physical activity conducted alone and having a friend as a confidant were negatively associated with depressive symptoms among older adults who had experienced elder abuse. CONCLUSION Given the significant association between elder abuse and negative mental health outcomes among older survivors, screening and prevention programs are recommended. Older adults who have experienced elder abuse may benefit from programs designed to increase physical activity and help older adults build and maintain close relationships with friends and confidants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukyung Yoon
- Division of Social Work, College of Health Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
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5
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Monsour MA, Wolfson DI, Jo J, Terry DP, Zuckerman SL. Is contact sport participation associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or neurodegenerative decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Sci 2024; 68:117-127. [PMID: 36779774 DOI: 10.23736/s0390-5616.22.05895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We sought to evaluate a potential association between contact vs. non-contact sport participation and long-term neurologic outcomes and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION PubMed/Embase/PsycINFO/CINAHL databases were queried for studies between 1950-2020 with contact and non-contact sports, longitudinal assessment >10 years, and long-term neurologic outcomes in four-domains: I) clinical diagnosis; II) CTE neuropathology; III) neurocognition; and IV) neuroimaging. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Of 2561 studies, 37 met inclusion criteria, and 19 contained homogenous outcomes usable in the meta-analysis. Domain I: Across six studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and antemortem diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease or death related to such a diagnosis (RR1.88, P=0.054, 95%CI0.99, 3.49); however, marginal significance (P<0.10) was obtained. Domain II: Across three autopsy studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and CTE neuropathology (RR42.39, P=0.086, 95%CI0.59, 3057.46); however, marginal significance (P<0.10) was obtained. Domain III: Across five cognitive studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and cognitive function on the Trail Making Test (TMT) scores A/B (A:d=0.17, P=0.275,95% CI-0.13, 0.47; B:d=0.13, P=0.310, 95%CI-0.12, 0.38). Domain IV: In 10 brain imaging-based studies, 32% comparisons showed significant differences between those with a history of contact sport vs. those without. CONCLUSIONS No statistically significant increased risk of neurodegenerative diagnosis, CTE neuropathology, or neurocognitive changes was found to be associated with contact sport participation, yet marginal significance was obtained in two domains. A minority of imaging comparisons showed differences of uncertain clinical significance. These results highlight the need for longitudinal investigations using standardized contact sport participation and neurodegenerative criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Monsour
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Daniel I Wolfson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jacob Jo
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Douglas P Terry
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Scott L Zuckerman
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Nashville, TN, USA -
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Allen AT, Cole WR, Walton SR, Kerr ZY, Chandran A, Mannix R, Guskiewicz KM, Meehan WP, Echemendia RJ, McCrea MA, Brett BL. Subjective and Performance-Based Cognition and Their Associations with Head Injury History in Older Former National Football League Players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2023; 55:2170-2179. [PMID: 37443456 PMCID: PMC10787800 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003256] [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] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Investigate the association between self-reported subjective and performance-based cognition among older (50-70 years) former professional American football players, as well as the relationship of cognitive measures with concussion history and years of football participation, as a proxy for repetitive head impact exposure. METHODS Among older former National Football League (NFL) players ( N = 172; mean age = 60.69 ± 5.64), associations of subjective (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Cognitive Function-Short Form) and performance-based cognitive measures (Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone [BTACT] Executive Function and Episodic Memory indices) were assessed via univariable and multivariable regression models, with a priori covariates of depression and race. A similar univariate and multivariable regression approach assessed associations between concussion history and years of football participation with subjective and performance-based cognitive measures. In a sample subset ( n = 114), stability of subjective cognitive rating was assessed via partial correlation. RESULTS Subjective ratings of cognition were significantly associated with performance-based assessment, with moderate effect sizes (episodic memory ηp2 = 0.12; executive function ηp2 = 0.178). These associations were weakened, but remained significant ( P s < 0.05), with the inclusion of covariates. Greater concussion history was associated with lower subjective cognitive function ( ηp2 = 0.114, P < 0.001), but not performance-based cognition. The strength of association between concussion history and subjective cognition was substantially weakened with inclusion of covariates ( ηp2 = 0.057). Years of participation were not associated with measures of subjective or objective cognition ( P s > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings reinforce the importance of comprehensive evaluation reflecting both subjective and objective measures of cognition, as well as the consideration of patient-specific factors, as part of a comprehensive neurobehavioral and health assessment of older former contact sport athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Allen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
| | - Wesley R. Cole
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Samuel R. Walton
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Zachary Yukio Kerr
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Avinash Chandran
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
- Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kevin M. Guskiewicz
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - William P. Meehan
- Sports Medicine Division, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ruben J. Echemendia
- Psychological and Neurobehavioral Associates, Inc, State College, PA
- University Orthopedics Center Concussion Clinic, State College, PA
| | - Michael A. McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
| | - Benjamin L. Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
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7
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Lee CD, Meehan WP, Bazarian J. Participation of Children in American Football. N Engl J Med 2023; 389:660-662. [PMID: 37585634 DOI: 10.1056/nejmclde2302021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
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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: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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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Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, Ahmed OH, Blauwet C, Cantu RC, Davis GA, Echemendia RJ, Makdissi M, McNamee M, Broglio S, Emery CA, Feddermann-Demont N, Fuller GW, Giza CC, Guskiewicz KM, Hainline B, Iverson GL, Kutcher JS, Leddy JJ, Maddocks D, Manley G, McCrea M, Purcell LK, Putukian M, Sato H, Tuominen MP, Turner M, Yeates KO, Herring SA, Meeuwisse W. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport-Amsterdam, October 2022. Br J Sports Med 2023; 57:695-711. [PMID: 37316210 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 152.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For over two decades, the Concussion in Sport Group has held meetings and developed five international statements on concussion in sport. This 6th statement summarises the processes and outcomes of the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Amsterdam on 27-30 October 2022 and should be read in conjunction with the (1) methodology paper that outlines the consensus process in detail and (2) 10 systematic reviews that informed the conference outcomes. Over 3½ years, author groups conducted systematic reviews of predetermined priority topics relevant to concussion in sport. The format of the conference, expert panel meetings and workshops to revise or develop new clinical assessment tools, as described in the methodology paper, evolved from previous consensus meetings with several new components. Apart from this consensus statement, the conference process yielded revised tools including the Concussion Recognition Tool-6 (CRT6) and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-6 (SCAT6, Child SCAT6), as well as a new tool, the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool-6 (SCOAT6, Child SCOAT6). This consensus process also integrated new features including a focus on the para athlete, the athlete's perspective, concussion-specific medical ethics and matters related to both athlete retirement and the potential long-term effects of SRC, including neurodegenerative disease. This statement summarises evidence-informed principles of concussion prevention, assessment and management, and emphasises those areas requiring more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon S Patricios
- Wits Sport and Health (WiSH), School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kathryn J Schneider
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jiri Dvorak
- Spine Unit, Schulthess Clinic Human Performance Lab, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Osman Hassan Ahmed
- Physiotherapy Department, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Poole, UK
- The FA Centre for Para Football Research, The Football Association, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Cheri Blauwet
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Kelley Adaptive Sports Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert C Cantu
- CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gavin A Davis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ruben J Echemendia
- Psychology, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
- Psychological and Neurobehavioral Associates, Inc, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Michael Makdissi
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health-Austin Campus, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael McNamee
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- School of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Steven Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Carolyn A Emery
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nina Feddermann-Demont
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Sports Neuroscience, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gordon Ward Fuller
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
| | - Christopher C Giza
- Neurosurgery, UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Pediatrics/Pediatric Neurology, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin M Guskiewicz
- Matthew Gfeller Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Hainline
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - John J Leddy
- UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicne, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - David Maddocks
- Melbourne Neuropsychology Services & Perry Maddocks Trollope Lawyers, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoff Manley
- Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael McCrea
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Laura K Purcell
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Haruhiko Sato
- Neurosurgery, Seirei Mikatahara Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | | | - Michael Turner
- International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation, London, UK
- University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Stanley A Herring
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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10
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Schaffert J, Didehbani N, LoBue C, Hart J, Wilmoth K, Cullum CM. No association between age beginning tackle football, or years played and neurocognitive performance later-in-life among older National Football League retirees. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 38:644-649. [PMID: 36533487 PMCID: PMC10202547 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac101] [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] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In a retrospective cohort, we evaluated whether age beginning tackle football (ABTF) and more total years of playing football (TYPF) were associated with worse later-in-life neuropsychological change among older retired National Football League (NFL) players. METHOD Participants were 19 older NFL retirees aged 54-79, including 12 who returned for follow-up evaluation 15-51 months later. Mixed-linear models evaluated the association between ABTF/TYFP and baseline neuropsychological composite scores (executive functioning/attention/speed, language, memory), and neuropsychological composites over time. RESULTS ABTF and TYPF were not significantly associated with neuropsychological composites at baseline or over time (all p's > .05). There were no significant differences in neuropsychological performance between those ABTF <12 and ≥ 12 years old (all p's ≥ .475) or between those with TYPF <19 or ≥ 19 years played (median split; all p's ≥ .208). CONCLUSIONS Preliminary findings suggest that ABTF and TYPF does not worsen neurocognitive decline later-in-life among older NFL retirees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Schaffert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nyaz Didehbani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Christian LoBue
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John Hart
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Callier Center, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, UT Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kristin Wilmoth
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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11
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Mathur MB, Fox MP. Toward Open and Reproducible Epidemiology. Am J Epidemiol 2023; 192:658-664. [PMID: 36627249 PMCID: PMC10089067 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Starting in the 2010s, researchers in the experimental social sciences rapidly began to adopt increasingly open and reproducible scientific practices. These practices include publicly sharing deidentified data when possible, sharing analytical code, and preregistering study protocols. Empirical evidence from the social sciences suggests such practices are feasible, can improve analytical reproducibility, and can reduce selective reporting. In academic epidemiology, adoption of open-science practices has been slower than in the social sciences (with some notable exceptions, such as registering clinical trials). Epidemiologic studies are often large, complex, conceived after data have already been collected, and difficult to replicate directly by collecting new data. These characteristics make it especially important to ensure their integrity and analytical reproducibility. Open-science practices can also pay immediate dividends to researchers' own work by clarifying scientific reasoning and encouraging well-documented, organized workflows. We consider how established epidemiologists and early-career researchers alike can help midwife a culture of open science in epidemiology through their research practices, mentorship, and editorial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya B Mathur
- Correspondence to Dr. Maya B. Mathur, Quantitative Sciences Unit, 3180 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (e-mail: )
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Bryant AM, Kerr ZY, Walton SR, Barr WB, Guskiewicz KM, McCrea MA, Brett BL. Investigating the association between subjective and objective performance-based cognitive function among former collegiate football players. Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 37:595-616. [PMID: 35670306 PMCID: PMC9726994 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2022.2083021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies have observed variable associations of prior contact sport participation with subjective and objective measures of cognitive function. This study directly investigated the association between subjective self-report and objective performance-based cognition among former collegiate football players, as well as its relationship to self-reported concussion history. METHODS Former collegiate football players (N = 57; mean age = 37.9 years [SD = 1.49]) retired from sport 15-years prior were enrolled. Linear regression models examined associations between subjective cognition (Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Cognitive Functioning-Short Form), and performance on a neuropsychological battery. Domain specific (executive function) metrics of subjective (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult) and objective cognition were also exclusively examined. Associations between self-reported concussion history with subjective and objective measures were tested. Potential influential factors (sleep quality and distress) were included as covariates. RESULTS Subjective cognition was not significantly associated with any objective measures of cognitive functioning (p's > .05). Greater self-reported concussion history was inversely associated with subjective cognition (B = -2.49, p = .004), but not objective performance-based cognition (p's > .05). Distress was significantly related to all metrics of subjective cognition (p's < .001) as well as performance on delayed recall and verbal fluency (p's < .05). Sleep quality was only significantly related to timed visuospatial sequencing (p = .033). CONCLUSIONS Reliance on self-reported measures of cognitive functioning alone is insufficient when assessing cognition in former contact sport athletes. Assessment of other factors known to influence subjective cognitive complaints should also be examined in determining the presence of cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Bryant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Zachary Y. Kerr
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Samuel R. Walton
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Kevin M. Guskiewicz
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Michael A. McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Benjamin L. Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Bukhari RA, Graham JE, Kinney AR, Hoffman A, Malcolm MP. Are Social Determinants of Health Associated With Onset of Rehabilitation Services in Patients Hospitalized for Traumatic Brain Injury? J Head Trauma Rehabil 2023; 38:156-164. [PMID: 36730956 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of community-level social determinants of health (SDoH) on the onset of occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) services among individuals hospitalized for traumatic brain injury (TBI). SETTING 14 acute care hospitals in the state of Colorado. PARTICIPANTS We studied 5825 adults with TBI. DESIGN In a secondary analysis of de-identified electronic health record data, we performed multivariable logistic and linear regressions to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the likelihood of receiving services and duration to initiation of services among those who received them. MAIN MEASURES Community-level SDoH, receipt of rehabilitation services, and onset of rehabilitation services. RESULTS Multivariable logistic and linear regressions revealed that those in top quartiles for community income were associated with duration to OT services, ranging from OR = 0.33 [05% CI, 0.07, 0.60] for quartile 2 to 0.76 [0.44, 1.08] for quartile 4 compared with those with the lowest quartile. Only the top quartile differed significantly for duration to PT services (0.63 [0.28, 0.98]). Relative to those with below the median community percentage of high school degree, those with above the median were associated with duration to PT services only (-0.32 [-0.60, -0.04]). Neither community percentage with bachelor's degree nor rural-urban designation was associated with duration to either therapy service. CONCLUSION Further research is needed to determine whether our SDoH variables were too diffuse to capture individual experiences and impacts on care or whether community-level education and income, and rurality, truly do not influence time to therapy for patients hospitalized with TBI. Other, individual-level variables, such as age, comorbidity burden, and TBI severity, demonstrated clear relationships with therapy onset. These findings may help therapists evaluate and standardize equitable access to timely rehabilitation services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayyan A Bukhari
- Department of Occupational Therapy Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado (Mr Bukhari and Dr Graham); Department of Occupational Therapy, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Mr Bukhari); VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Aurora, Colorado (Dr Kinney); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora (Dr Kinney); UCHealth, University of Colorado Hospital, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora (Ms Hoffman); and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah (Dr Malcolm)
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Oldham JR, Howell D, Lanois C, Berkner P, Iverson GL, Mannix R, Meehan W. Neurocognitive functioning and symptoms across levels of collision and contact in male high school athletes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:jnnp-2021-328469. [PMID: 35477889 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether male collision sport athletes perform worse on computerised neurocognitive assessments and report higher symptom burdens than athletes in contact (but not collision) sports and athletes in non-contact sports. METHODS This cross-sectional study used data collected by the Massachusetts Concussion Management Coalition on high school boys who underwent computerised neurocognitive testing between 2009 and 2018. We divided sports participation in three different sport types: (1) collision, (2) contact, non-collision and (3) non-contact. Our outcomes included the four computerised neurocognitive composite scores (verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor speed and reaction time) and the total symptom score. The independent variable was sport type (collision, contact, non-contact), adjusted for age, concussion history and comorbidities. RESULTS Of the 92 979 athletes (age: 15.59±2.08 years) included in our study, collision sport athletes performed minimally but significantly worse than other athletes on neurocognitive composite scores (verbal memory: β=-1.64, 95% CI -1.85 to -1.44; visual memory: β=-1.87, 95% CI -2.14 to -1.60; visual motor speed: β=-2.12, 95% CI -2.26 to -1.97; reaction time: β=0.02, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.02). Collision and contact sport athletes also had slightly but significantly lower total symptom scores (collision: 3.99±7.17; contact: 3.78±6.81; non-contact: 4.32±7.51, p<0.001, η2=0.001) than non-contact sport athletes. CONCLUSION There are minimal observed differences in performance on neurocognitive assessments between collision sport, contact sport and non-contact sport athletes. The repetitive subconcussive head impacts associated with collision sport participation do not appear to negatively affect self-reported symptoms or neurocognitive functioning in current youth athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie R Oldham
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - David Howell
- Children's Hospital Colorado Sports Medicine Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Corey Lanois
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Berkner
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William Meehan
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Hibshman N, Yengo-Kahn A, Wiseman A, Kelly PD, Wu J, Monk S, Harris G, Gannon S, Shannon C, Bonfield CM. Child participation in collision sports and football: what influences parental decisions? PHYSICIAN SPORTSMED 2022; 50:171-180. [PMID: 33764271 PMCID: PMC10565646 DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2021.1908867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sport participation promotes health benefits for children. Current media and scientific coverage of sport-related head injury may influence a parent's decision on sports participation. Physicians must understand what influences these decisions to effectively counsel patients and families. This study sought to better understand and quantify the parental decisions to allow/disallow collision sports, including football participation. METHODS A 31-question survey related to child/parent demographics, sports history, and influences to allow/disallow sport participation was available to parents in the United States through a national volunteer registry, between November 2016 and September 2019. Pearson's chi-squared and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to analyze categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the most powerful factors associated with the decision. RESULTS Of the 884 responses, 430 (49%) parents would disallow collision sport participation and 334 (38%) would disallow football. Parents who would allow collision sports more commonly cited child desire, while those parents who would disallow cited safety concern as the greatest influence to generally disallow a sport. Those who would disallow reported doctors (35.1% vs 25.3%; P = 0.002), media (12.8% vs 7.3%; P = 0.006) and other parents (11.2% vs 7.3%; P = 0.045) as influences. A child's age (OR 1.039, 95%CI 1.007-1.073; P = 0.018) was independently associated with their parent responding that they would allow collision sports. Parent educational status showed that those with higher than a bachelor's degree would be less likely to allow football participation (OR 0.635, 95%CI 0.443-0.910; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS Parents incorporate many sources of information into the decision to allow or disallow their child to participate in collision sports. A child's desire to play a sport and child safety are driving factors for parents faced with the decision of whether to allow participation in collision sports. Physician input is more frequently influential to parents than the media, underscoring the responsibility of physicians to engage families on the risks, benefits, and resources available for sport participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Hibshman
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Aaron Yengo-Kahn
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alyssa Wiseman
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Patrick D. Kelly
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffanie Wu
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Steve Monk
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Glenn Harris
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University McGaw Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Gannon
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Chevis Shannon
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Christopher M. Bonfield
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Monroe Carrell Jr. Hospital, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Salivary S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100B) and neurofilament light (NfL) after acute exposure to repeated head impacts in collegiate water polo players. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3439. [PMID: 35236877 PMCID: PMC8891257 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07241-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-based biomarkers of brain injury may be useful for monitoring brain health in athletes at risk for concussions. Two putative biomarkers of sport-related concussion, neurofilament light (NfL), an axonal structural protein, and S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100B), an astrocyte-derived protein, were measured in saliva, a biofluid which can be sampled in an athletic setting without the risks and burdens associated with blood sampled by venipuncture. Samples were collected from men’s and women’s collegiate water polo players (n = 65) before and after a competitive tournament. Head impacts were measured using sensors previously evaluated for use in water polo, and video recordings were independently reviewed for the purpose of validating impacts recorded by the sensors. Athletes sustained a total of 107 head impacts, all of which were asymptomatic (i.e., no athlete was diagnosed with a concussion or more serious). Post-tournament salivary NfL was directly associated with head impact frequency (RR = 1.151, p = 0.025) and cumulative head impact magnitude (RR = 1.008, p = 0.014), while controlling for baseline salivary NfL. Change in S100B was not associated with head impact exposure (RR < 1.001, p > 0.483). These patterns suggest that repeated head impacts may cause axonal injury, even in asymptomatic athletes.
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Iverson GL, Merz ZC, Terry DP. High-School Football and Midlife Brain Health Problems. Clin J Sport Med 2022; 32:86-94. [PMID: 35234740 PMCID: PMC8868212 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether middle-aged men who played high-school football experience worse mental health or cognitive functioning than men who did not play high-school football. DESIGN Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING Online survey completed remotely. PARTICIPANTS A total of 435 men between the ages of 35 and 55 completed the study, of whom 407 were included in the analyses after excluding participants who answered embedded validity items incorrectly (n = 16), played semiprofessional football (n = 2), or experienced a recent concussion (n = 10). ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS Self-reported high school football participation, compared with those who played contact sports, noncontact sports, and no sports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES A lifetime history of depression or anxiety; mental health or cognitive problems in the past year; current depression symptoms, and post-concussion-like symptoms. RESULTS Middle-aged men who played high-school football did not have a higher prevalence of being prescribed medication for anxiety or depression or receiving treatment from a mental health professional. Similarly, there were no significant differences between groups on the rates in which they endorsed depression, anxiety, anger, concentration problems, memory problems, headaches, migraines, neck or back pain, or chronic pain over the past year. A greater proportion of those who played football reported sleep problems over the past year and reported being prescribed medication for chronic pain and for headaches. CONCLUSIONS Men who played high-school football did not report worse brain health compared with those who played other contact sports, noncontact sports, or did not participate in sports during high school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Spaulding Research Institute, MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, and Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, Massachusetts and
| | - Zachary C. Merz
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Spaulding Research Institute, MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, and Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, Massachusetts and
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Brett BL, Kerr ZY, Walton SR, Chandran A, Defreese JD, Mannix R, Echemendia RJ, Meehan WP, Guskiewicz KM, McCrea M. Longitudinal trajectory of depression symptom severity and the influence of concussion history and physical function over a 19-year period among former National Football League (NFL) players: an NFL-LONG Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:272-279. [PMID: 34663623 PMCID: PMC8854336 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigated the longitudinal course of depressive symptom severity over 19 years in former American football players and the influence of concussion history, contact sport participation and physical function on observed trajectories. METHODS Former American football players completed a general health questionnaire involving demographic information, medical/psychiatric history, concussion/football history and validated measures of depression and physical function at three time points (2001, 2010 and 2019). Parallel process latent growth curve modelling tested associations between concussion history, years of football participation, and overall and change in physical function on the overall level and trajectory of depressive symptoms. RESULTS Among the 333 participants (mean(SD) age, 48.95 (9.37) at enrolment), there was a statistically significant, but small increase in depressive symptom severity from 2001 (48.34 (7.75)) to 2019 (49.77 (9.52)), slope=0.079 (SE=0.11), p=0.007. Those with greater concussion history endorsed greater overall depressive symptom severity, B=1.38 (SE=0.33), p<0.001. Concussion history, B<0.001 (SE=0.02), p=0.997 and years of participation, B<0.001 (SE=0.01), p=0.980, were not associated with rate of change (slope factor) over 19 years. Greater decline in physical function, B=-0.71 (SE=0.16), p<0.001, was predictive of a faster growth rate (ie, steeper increase) of depression symptom endorsement over time. CONCLUSIONS Concussion history, not years of participation, was associated with greater depressive symptom severity. Neither factor was predictive of changes over a 19-year period. Decline in physical function was a significant predictor of a steeper trajectory of increased depressive symptoms, independent of concussion effects. This represents one viable target for preventative intervention to mitigate long-term neuropsychiatric difficulties associated with concussion across subsequent decades of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
| | - Zachary Y Kerr
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel R Walton
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Avinash Chandran
- Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - J D Defreese
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruben J Echemendia
- Psychological and Neurobehavioral Associates, Inc, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - William P Meehan
- Sports Medicine Division, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin M Guskiewicz
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI, USA
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Brett BL, Gardner RC, Godbout J, Dams-O’Connor K, Keene CD. Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:498-507. [PMID: 34364650 PMCID: PMC8636548 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly of greater severity (i.e., moderate to severe), has been identified as a risk factor for all-cause dementia and Parkinson's disease, with risk for specific dementia subtypes being more variable. Among the limited studies involving neuropathological (postmortem) confirmation, the association between TBI and risk for neurodegenerative disease increases in complexity, with polypathology often reported on examination. The heterogeneous clinical and neuropathological outcomes associated with TBI are likely reflective of the multifaceted postinjury acute and chronic processes that may contribute to neurodegeneration. Acutely in TBI, axonal injury and disrupted transport influences molecular mechanisms fundamental to the formation of pathological proteins, such as amyloid-β peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau. These protein deposits may develop into amyloid-β plaques, hyperphosphorylated tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles, and dystrophic neurites. These and other characteristic neurodegenerative disease pathologies may then spread across brain regions. The acute immune and neuroinflammatory response involves alteration of microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells; release of downstream pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines; and recruitment of peripheral immune cells. Although thought to be neuroprotective and reparative initially, prolongation of these processes may promote neurodegeneration. We review the evidence for TBI as a risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease, in clinical and neuropathological studies. Further, we describe the dynamic interactions between acute response to injury and chronic processes that may be involved in TBI-related pathogenesis and progression of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L. Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of
Wisconsin,Corresponding author: Benjamin L.
Brett, 414-955-7316, , Medical College of
Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
| | - Raquel C. Gardner
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill
Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco and the San
Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
| | - Jonathan Godbout
- Department of Neuroscience, Chronic Brain Injury Program,
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Kristen Dams-O’Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance,
Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University
of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
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20
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Iverson GL, Terry DP. High School Football and Risk for Depression and Suicidality in Adulthood: Findings From a National Longitudinal Study. Front Neurol 2022; 12:812604. [PMID: 35222232 PMCID: PMC8865514 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.812604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThere is growing public concern regarding the potential long-term effects of playing football on brain health, specifically that playing football before and during high school might cause damage to the brain that manifests years or decades later as depression or suicidality. This study examined if playing high school football was associated with increased lifetime risk for depression, suicidality over the past year, or depressed mood in the past week in men aged between their middle 30 s to early 40 s.MethodsPublicly available data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed. This longitudinal, prospective cohort study sampled nationally representative U.S. youth starting in 1994–1995 (Wave I) and most recently in 2016–2018 (Wave V). A total of 3,147 boys participated in Wave I (median age = 15), of whom 1,805 were re-assessed during Wave V (median age = 38).ResultsOf the 1,762 men included in the study, 307 (17.4%) men reported being diagnosed with depression and 275 (15.6%) reported being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or panic disorder at some point in their life. When comparing men who played high school football to those who did not, there were no differences in the proportions of the sample who had a lifetime diagnosis of depression, lifetime diagnosis of anxiety/panic disorders, suicidal ideation in the past year, psychological counseling in the past year, or current depressed mood. However, men who received psychological counseling and/or experienced suicidal ideation during adolescence were significantly more likely to report a lifetime history of depression, suicidal ideation in the past year, and current depressed mood.ConclusionIndividuals who reported playing football during adolescence did not have an increased risk of depression or suicidal ideation when they were in their middle 30 s to early 40 s, but mental health problems during adolescence were associated with an increased risk for psychological health difficulties more than 20 years later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Spaulding Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, United States
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Grant L. Iverson
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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21
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Disparate Associations of Years of Football Participation and a Metric of Head Impact Exposure with Neurobehavioral Outcomes in Former Collegiate Football Players. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 28:22-34. [PMID: 33563361 PMCID: PMC8353007 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617721000047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Years of sport participation (YoP) is conventionally used to estimate cumulative repetitive head impacts (RHI) experienced by contact sport athletes. The relationship of this measure to other estimates of head impact exposure and the potential associations of these measures with neurobehavioral functioning are unknown. We investigated the association between YoP and the Head Impact Exposure Estimate (HIEE), and whether associations between the two estimates of exposure and neurobehavioral functioning varied. METHODS Former American football players (N = 58; age = 37.9 ± 1.5 years) completed in-person evaluations approximately 15 years following sport discontinuation. Assessments consisted of neuropsychological assessment and structured interviews of head impact history (i.e., HIEE). General linear models were fit to test the association between YoP and the HIEE, and their associations with neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS YoP was weakly correlated with the HIEE, p = .005, R2 = .13. Higher YoP was associated with worse performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, p = .004, R2 = .14, and Trail Making Test-B, p = .001, R2 = .18. The HIEE was associated with worse performance on the Delayed Recall trial of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, p = .020, R2 = .09, self-reported cognitive difficulties (Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function), p = .011, R2 = .10, psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory-18), p = .018, R2 = .10, and behavioral regulation (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults), p = .017, R2 = .10. CONCLUSIONS YoP was marginally associated with the HIEE, a comprehensive estimate of head impacts sustained over a career. Associations between each exposure estimate and neurobehavioral functioning outcomes differed. Findings have meaningful implications for efforts to accurately quantify the risk of adverse long-term neurobehavioral outcomes potentially associated with RHI.
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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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Rose SC, Yeates KO, Nguyen JT, Pizzimenti NM, Ercole PM, McCarthy MT. Exposure to Head Impacts and Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes in Youth Tackle Football Players Across 4 Seasons. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2140359. [PMID: 34967882 PMCID: PMC8719231 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.40359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Repetitive head impacts have been posited to contribute to neurocognitive and behavioral difficulties in contact sport athletes. OBJECTIVE To identify associations between cognitive and behavioral outcomes and head impacts measured in youth tackle football players over 4 seasons of play. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2016 through January 2020, spanning 4 football seasons. The setting was a youth tackle football program and outpatient medical clinic. Players were recruited from 4 football teams composed of fifth and sixth graders, and all interested players who volunteered to participate were enrolled. Data analysis was performed from March 2020 to June 2021. EXPOSURES Impacts were measured using helmet-based sensors during practices and games throughout 4 consecutive seasons of play. Impacts were summed to yield cumulative head impact gravitational force equivalents per season. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Ten cognitive and behavioral measures were completed before and after each football season. RESULTS There were 70 male participants aged 9 to 12 years (mean [SD] age, 10.6 [0.64] years), with 18 completing all 4 years of the study. At the post-season 1 time point, higher cumulative impacts were associated with lower self-reported symptom burden (β = -0.6; 95% CI, -1.0 to -0.2; P = .004). After correcting for multiple comparisons, no other associations were found between impacts and outcome measures. At multiple times throughout the study, premorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression were associated with worse cognitive or behavioral scores, whereas a premorbid headache disorder or history of concussion was less often associated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort of youth tackle football players, premorbid conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression, were associated with cognitive and behavioral outcomes more often than cumulative impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C. Rose
- Child Neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Department of Psychology, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Weiss J, Rabinowitz AR, Deshpande SK, Hasegawa RB, Small DS. Participation in Collision Sports and Cognitive Aging Among Swedish Twins. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:2604-2611. [PMID: 34142704 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab177] [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: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the association between early-life participation in collision sports and later-life cognitive health over a 28-year period in a population-based sample drawn from the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (1987-2014). Cognitive measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination and performance across multiple cognitive domains (e.g., global cognition, verbal ability, spatial ability, memory, processing speed). Among a sample of 660 adults (mean age at baseline, 62.8 years (range: 50-88); 58.2% female), who contributed 10,944 person-years of follow-up, there were 450 cases of cognitive impairment (crude rate = 41.1/1,000 person-years). Early-life participation in collision sports was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment at baseline or with its onset over a 28-year period in a time-to-event analysis, which accounted for the semi-competing risk of death. Furthermore, growth curve models revealed no association between early-life participation in collision sports and the level of or change in trajectories of cognition across multiple domains overall or in sex-stratified models. We discuss the long-term implications of adolescent participation in collision sports on cognitive health.
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25
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Iverson GL, Deep-Soboslay A, Hyde TM, Kleinman JE, Erskine B, Fisher-Hubbard A, deJong JL, Castellani RJ. Suicide in Older Adult Men Is Not Related to a Personal History of Participation in Football. Front Neurol 2021; 12:745824. [PMID: 34899570 PMCID: PMC8662809 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.745824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: It is reasonable to estimate that tens of millions of men in the United States played high school football. There is societal concern that participation in football confers risk for later-in-life mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is an association between a personal history of playing high school football and death by suicide. Methods: The subjects were obtained from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development (LIBD) brain donation program in collaboration with the Office of the Medical Examiner at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. Donor history was documented via medical records, mental health records, and telephone interviews with the next-of-kin. Results: The sample included 198 men aged 50 or older (median = 65.0 years, interquartile range = 57-75). There were 34.8% who participated in contact sports during high school (including football), and 29.8% participated in high school football. Approximately one-third of the sample had suicide as their manner of death (34.8%). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of suicide as a manner of death among those men with a personal history of playing football compared to men who did not play football or who did not play sports (p = 0.070, Odds Ratio, OR = 0.537). Those who played football were significantly less likely to have a lifetime history of a suicide attempt (p = 0.012, OR = 0.352). Men with mood disorders (p < 0.001, OR = 10.712), substance use disorders (p < 0.020, OR = 2.075), and those with a history of suicide ideation (p < 0.001, OR = 8.038) or attempts (p < 0.001, OR = 40.634) were more likely to have suicide as a manner of death. Moreover, those men with a family history of suicide were more likely to have prior suicide attempts (p = 0.031, OR = 2.153) and to have completed suicide (p = 0.001, OR = 2.927). Discussion: Suicide was related to well-established risk factors such as a personal history of a mood disorder, substance abuse disorder, prior suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and a family history of suicide attempts. This study adds to a steadily growing body of evidence suggesting that playing high school football is not associated with increased risk for suicidality or suicide during adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Spaulding Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, United States
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Amy Deep-Soboslay
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Thomas M. Hyde
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Joel E. Kleinman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brittany Erskine
- Department of Pathology, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Amanda Fisher-Hubbard
- Department of Pathology, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Joyce L. deJong
- Department of Pathology, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Rudolph J. Castellani
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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Iverson GL, Merz ZC, Terry DP. Playing High School Football Is Not Associated With an Increased Risk for Suicidality in Early Adulthood. Clin J Sport Med 2021; 31:469-474. [PMID: 34704972 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if playing high school football is associated with suicide ideation between the ages of 24 and 32 years. DESIGN Data were analyzed from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. This prospective cohort study sampled nationally representative US participants at 4 time points from 1994 to 2008. SETTING In-home assessment. PARTICIPANTS There were 3147 boys (age: median = 14.9, SD = 1.8) who participated during adolescence in 1994 to 1995 (wave I), of whom 2353 were reinterviewed in 2008 (wave IV, age: median = 29.1, SD = 1.8). ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS Football participation, history of psychological counseling, suicide ideation, and a suicide attempt in the past year during high school. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Lifetime history of depression, suicide ideation within the past year, and feeling depressed in the past 7 days at wave IV. RESULTS Men who played high school football, compared with those who did not, reported similar rates of lifetime diagnosis of depression, suicide ideation in the past year, and feeling depressed in the past 7 days. Those who played football reported similar rates of suicide ideation in the past year when they were in their early 20s. Individuals who underwent psychological counseling during adolescence were more likely to report a lifetime history of depression and suicide ideation in the past year. CONCLUSIONS Young men who played high school football are not at an increased risk for suicide ideation during both their early 20s and late 20s. By contrast, those who experienced mental health problems in high school were much more likely to experience suicide ideation during their 20s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital; Spaulding Research Institute
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program; & Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, Massachusetts
- Center for Health and Rehabilitation Research, Charlestown, Massachusetts; and
| | - Zachary C Merz
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Douglas P Terry
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program; & Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, Massachusetts
- Center for Health and Rehabilitation Research, Charlestown, Massachusetts; and
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Van Patten R, Iverson GL, Terry DP, Levi CR, Gardner AJ. Predictors and Correlates of Perceived Cognitive Decline in Retired Professional Rugby League Players. Front Neurol 2021; 12:676762. [PMID: 34707552 PMCID: PMC8542796 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.676762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Rugby league is an international full-contact sport, with frequent concussive injuries. Participation in other full-contact sports such as American football has been considered to be a risk factor for neuropsychiatric sequelae later-in-life, but little research has addressed the mental and cognitive health of retired professional rugby league players. We examined predictors and correlates of perceived (self-reported) cognitive decline in retired National Rugby League (NRL) players. Methods: Participants were 133 retired male elite level rugby league players in Australia. Participants completed clinical interviews, neuropsychological testing, and self-report measures. The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, self-report (IQCODE-Self), measured perceived cognitive decline. Results: The median age of the sample was 55.0 (M = 53.1, SD = 13.9, range = 30-89) and the median years of education completed was 12.0 (M = 11.9, SD = 2.6, range = 7-18). The retired players reported a median of 15.0 total lifetime concussions (M = 28.0, SD = 36.6, range = 0-200). The mean IQCODE-Self score was 3.2 (SD = 0.5; Range = 1.3-5.0); 10/133 (7.5%) and 38/133 (28.6%) scored above conservative and liberal cutoffs for cognitive decline on the IQCODE-Self, respectively. Perceived cognitive decline was positively correlated with current depressive symptoms, negatively correlated with years of professional sport exposure and resilience, and unrelated to objective cognition and number of self-reported concussions. A multiple regression model with perceived cognitive decline regressed on age, concussion history, professional rugby league exposure, depression, resilience, objective cognitive functioning, daytime sleepiness, and pain severity showed depression as the only significant predictor. Conclusion: This is the first large study examining subjectively experienced cognitive decline in retired professional rugby league players. Similar to studies from the general population and specialty clinics, no relationship was found between objective cognitive test performance and perceived cognitive decline. Depressive symptoms emerged as the strongest predictor of perceived cognitive decline, suggesting that subjective reports of worsening cognition in retired elite rugby league players might reflect psychological distress rather than current cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Van Patten
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Spaulding Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, United States
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Christopher R. Levi
- Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE), Liverpool, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Local Health District Sports Concussion Program, Waratah, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Gardner
- Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Hunter New England Local Health District Sports Concussion Program, Waratah, NSW, Australia
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Iverson GL, Büttner F, Caccese JB. Age of First Exposure to Contact and Collision Sports and Later in Life Brain Health: A Narrative Review. Front Neurol 2021; 12:727089. [PMID: 34659092 PMCID: PMC8511696 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.727089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A controversial theory proposes that playing tackle football before the age of 12 causes later in life brain health problems. This theory arose from a small study of 42 retired National Football League (NFL) players, which reported that those who started playing tackle football at a younger age performed worse on selected neuropsychological tests and a word reading test. The authors concluded that these differences were likely due to greater exposure to repetitive neurotrauma during a developmentally sensitive maturational period in their lives. Several subsequent studies of current high school and collegiate contact/collision sports athletes, and former high school, collegiate, and professional tackle football players have not replicated these findings. This narrative review aims to (i) discuss the fundamental concepts, issues, and controversies surrounding existing research on age of first exposure (AFE) to contact/collision sport, and (ii) provide a balanced interpretation, including risk of bias assessment findings, of this body of evidence. Among 21 studies, 11 studies examined former athletes, 8 studies examined current athletes, and 2 studies examined both former and current athletes. Although the literature on whether younger AFE to tackle football is associated with later in life cognitive, neurobehavioral, or mental health problems in former NFL players is mixed, the largest study of retired NFL players (N = 3,506) suggested there was not a significant association between earlier AFE to organized tackle football and worse subjectively experienced cognitive functioning, depression, or anxiety. Furthermore, no published studies of current athletes show a significant association between playing tackle football (or other contact/collision sports) before the age of 12 and cognitive, neurobehavioral, or mental health problems. It is important to note that all studies were judged to be at high overall risk of bias, indicating that more methodologically rigorous research is needed to understand whether there is an association between AFE to contact/collision sports and later in life brain health. The accumulated research to date suggests that earlier AFE to contact/collision sports is not associated with worse cognitive functioning or mental health in (i) current high school athletes, (ii) current collegiate athletes, or (iii) middle-aged men who played high school football. The literature on former NFL players is mixed and does not, at present, clearly support the theory that exposure to tackle football before age 12 is associated with later in life cognitive impairment or mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Fionn Büttner
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jaclyn B. Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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Dhote VV, Raja MKMM, Samundre P, Sharma S, Anwikar S, Upaganlawar AB. Sports Related Brain Injury and Neurodegeneration in Athletes. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 15:51-76. [PMID: 34515018 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210910114324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sports deserve a special place in human life to impart healthy and refreshing wellbeing. However, sports activities, especially contact sports, renders athlete vulnerable to brain injuries. Athletes participating in a contact sport like boxing, rugby, American football, wrestling, and basketball are exposed to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or concussions. The acute and chronic nature of these heterogeneous injuries provides a spectrum of dysfunctions that alters the neuronal, musculoskeletal, and behavioral responses of an athlete. Many sports-related brain injuries go unreported, but these head impacts trigger neurometabolic disruptions that contribute to long-term neuronal impairment. The pathophysiology of post-concussion and its underlying mechanisms are undergoing intense research. It also shed light on chronic disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. In this review, we examined post-concussion neurobehavioral changes, tools for early detection of signs, and their impact on the athlete. Further, we discussed the role of nutritional supplements in ameliorating neuropsychiatric diseases in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipin V Dhote
- Faculty of Pharmacy, VNS Group of Institutions, Bhopal, MP,462044. India
| | | | - Prem Samundre
- Faculty of Pharmacy, VNS Group of Institutions, Bhopal, MP,462044. India
| | - Supriya Sharma
- Faculty of Pharmacy, VNS Group of Institutions, Bhopal, MP,462044. India
| | - Shraddha Anwikar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, VNS Group of Institutions, Bhopal, MP,462044. India
| | - Aman B Upaganlawar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, VNS Group of Institutions, Bhopal, MP,462044. India
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30
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Hunzinger KJ, Caccese JB, Costantini KM, Swanik CB, Buckley TA. Age of First Exposure to Collision Sports Does Not Affect Patient Reported Outcomes in Women and Men Community Rugby Players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1895-1902. [PMID: 33731652 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to repetitive head impacts through contact/collision sports and patient-reported outcomes in community rugby players. METHODS We recruited community rugby players older than 18 yr with at least 1 yr of contact rugby participation to complete an online survey. Participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) via Qualtrics. We used generalized linear models to examine the association between AFE (continuous) and patient-reported outcomes by sex, while controlling for cumulative years contact/collision sport history, age, and concussion history (yes/no). In addition, we used Mann-Whitney U tests to compare patient-reported outcomes between AFE <12 and AFE ≥12. RESULTS A total of 1037 rugby players (31.6 ± 11.3 yr (range, 18-74 yr), 59.1% men) participated in this study. Whether analyzed continuously or dichotomously at age 12 yr, younger AFE was not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes for either men or women. Positive concussion history was a significant predictor of worse BSI-18 subscores, SF-12 subscores, and SWLS in women and worse BSI-18 subscores in men. Cumulative contact/collision sport history was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression and SF-12 (Mental Component Summary) subscores in men only. In men and women, older age was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression, Anxiety, and GSI subscores; better SWLS (in men only); and better SF-12 Mental Component Summary, but worse SF-12 (Physical Component Summary). CONCLUSIONS Younger AFE to contact/collision sport is not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes in early adult rugby players. Concussion history was predictive of worse patient-reported outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Katelyn M Costantini
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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31
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Rose SC, Yeates KO, Nguyen JT, Ercole PM, Pizzimenti NM, McCarthy MT. Subconcussive Head Impacts and Neurocognitive Function Over 3 Seasons of Youth Football. J Child Neurol 2021; 36:768-775. [PMID: 33834862 DOI: 10.1177/08830738211004490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the association between repetitive subconcussive head impacts and neurobehavioral outcomes in youth tackle football players. METHODS Using helmet-based sensors, we measured head impacts for 3 consecutive seasons of play in 29 male players age 9-11. Cumulative impact g's were calculated. Players completed a battery of outcome measures before and after each season, including neuropsychological testing, vestibular-ocular sensitivity, and self- and parent-reported measures of symptoms and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). RESULTS Average cumulative impact over 3 seasons was 13 900g. High-intensity hits predicted worse change for self-reported social adjustment (P = .001). Cumulative impact did not predict change in any of the outcome measures. History of ADHD, anxiety, and depression predicted worse change for self-reported symptoms and social adjustment, independent of head impacts. When players were stratified into 3 groups based on cumulative impact across all 3 seasons, differences in outcome measures existed prior to the start of the first season. These differences did not further increase over the course of the 3 seasons. CONCLUSION Over 3 consecutive seasons of youth tackle football, we found no association between cumulative head impacts and neurobehavioral outcomes. Larger sample sizes and longer follow-up times would further assist in characterizing this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean C Rose
- Division of Child Neurology, 2647Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Department of Psychology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, 2129University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Markovic SJ, Fitzgerald M, Peiffer JJ, Scott BR, Rainey-Smith SR, Sohrabi HR, Brown BM. The impact of exercise, sleep, and diet on neurocognitive recovery from mild traumatic brain injury in older adults: A narrative review. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 68:101322. [PMID: 33737117 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for a large majority of traumatic brain injuries sustained globally each year. Older adults, who are already susceptible to age-related declines to neurocognitive health, appear to be at an increased risk of both sustaining an mTBI and experiencing slower or impaired recovery. There is also growing evidence that mTBI is a potential risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. Lifestyle-based interventions are gaining prominence as a cost-effective means of maintaining cognition and brain health with age. Consequently, inter-individual variations in exercise, sleep, and dietary patterns could influence the trajectory of post-mTBI neurocognitive recovery, particularly in older adults. This review synthesises the current animal and human literature centred on the mechanisms through which lifestyle-related habits and behaviours could influence acute and longer-term neurocognitive functioning following mTBI. Numerous neuroprotective processes which are impacted by lifestyle factors have been established in animal models of TBI. However, the literature is characterised by a lack of translation to human samples and limited appraisal of the interaction between ageing and brain injury. Further research is needed to better establish the therapeutic utility of applying lifestyle-based modifications to improve post-mTBI neurocognitive outcomes in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun J Markovic
- Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Melinda Fitzgerald
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jeremiah J Peiffer
- Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Murdoch Applied Sports Science Laboratory, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Brendan R Scott
- Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Murdoch Applied Sports Science Laboratory, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephanie R Rainey-Smith
- Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Hamid R Sohrabi
- Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Balaclava Rd, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Belinda M Brown
- Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Australian Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute Building, 8 Verdun St, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Healthy Ageing, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
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33
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The Nocebo Effect and Pediatric Concussion. J Sport Rehabil 2021; 30:837-843. [PMID: 34050035 DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2020-0519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
While placebo effects are well recognized within clinical medicine, "nocebo effects" have received much less attention. Nocebo effects are problems caused by negative expectations derived from information or treatment provided during a clinical interaction. In this review, we examine how nocebo effects may arise following pediatric concussion and how they may worsen symptoms or prolong recovery. We offer several suggestions to prevent, lessen, or eliminate such effects. We provide recommendations for clinicians in the following areas: terminology selection, explicit and implicit messaging to patients, evidence-based recommendations, and awareness of potential biases during clinical interactions. Clinicians should consider the empirically grounded suggestions when approaching the care of pediatric patients with concussion.
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Asken BM, Rabinovici GD. Identifying degenerative effects of repetitive head trauma with neuroimaging: a clinically-oriented review. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:96. [PMID: 34022959 PMCID: PMC8141132 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Varying severities and frequencies of head trauma may result in dynamic acute and chronic pathophysiologic responses in the brain. Heightened attention to long-term effects of head trauma, particularly repetitive head trauma, has sparked recent efforts to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of underlying disease processes. Imaging modalities like structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are the most clinically applicable given their use in neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and differentiation. In recent years, researchers have targeted repetitive head trauma cohorts in hopes of identifying in vivo biomarkers for underlying biologic changes that might ultimately improve diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living persons. These populations most often include collision sport athletes (e.g., American football, boxing) and military veterans with repetitive low-level blast exposure. We provide a clinically-oriented review of neuroimaging data from repetitive head trauma cohorts based on structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET. We supplement the review with two patient reports of neuropathology-confirmed, clinically impaired adults with prior repetitive head trauma who underwent structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET in addition to comprehensive clinical examinations before death. REVIEW CONCLUSIONS Group-level comparisons to controls without known head trauma have revealed inconsistent regional volume differences, with possible propensity for medial temporal, limbic, and subcortical (thalamus, corpus callosum) structures. Greater frequency and severity (i.e., length) of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is observed in repetitive head trauma cohorts compared to unexposed controls. It remains unclear whether CSP predicts a particular neurodegenerative process, but CSP presence should increase suspicion that clinical impairment is at least partly attributable to the individual's head trauma exposure (regardless of underlying disease). PET imaging similarly has not revealed a prototypical metabolic or molecular pattern associated with repetitive head trauma or predictive of CTE based on the most widely studied radiotracers. Given the range of clinical syndromes and neurodegenerative pathologies observed in a subset of adults with prior repetitive head trauma, structural MRI and PET imaging may still be useful for differential diagnosis (e.g., assessing suspected Alzheimer's disease).
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Affiliation(s)
- Breton M. Asken
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Departments of Neurology, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
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Iverson GL, Caccese JB, Merz ZC, Büttner F, Terry DP. Age of First Exposure to Football Is Not Associated With Later-in-Life Cognitive or Mental Health Problems. Front Neurol 2021; 12:647314. [PMID: 34025554 PMCID: PMC8131846 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.647314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if earlier age of first exposure to football is associated with worse brain health in middle-aged and older adult men who played high school football. Methods: Men from the United States, aged 35 and older, who reported playing high school football, completed a customized, online health survey via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk) platform. Survey items included physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms over the past week and over the past year, sports participation history (including age of first exposure to football), medical history, and concussion history. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and the British Columbia Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (BC-PSI). Results: There were 186 men (age M = 51.78, SD = 10.93) who participated in high school football, and 87 (46.8%) reported football participation starting before the age of 12 and 99 (53.2%) reported football participation at or after the age of 12. Those who started playing football at an earlier age reported a greater number of lifetime concussions (M = 1.95, SD = 1.79) compared to those who started playing at age 12 or later (M = 1.28, SD = 1.52; U = 3,257.5, p = 0.003). A similar proportion of men who played football before vs. after the age of 12 reported a lifetime history of being prescribed medications for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, or memory problems. When comparing men who played football before vs. after the age of 12, the groups did not differ significantly in their ratings of depression, anger, anxiety, headaches, migraines, neck or back pain, chronic pain, concentration problems, or memory problems over the past week or the past year. The two groups did not differ significantly in their ratings of current symptoms of depression (PHQ-8; U = 4,187.0, p = 0.74) or post-concussion-like symptoms (BC-PSI; U = 3,944.0, p = 0.53). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant correlations between the age of first exposure to football, as a continuous variable, and PHQ-8 or BC-PSI scores. Conclusion: This study adds to a rapidly growing body of literature suggesting that earlier age of first exposure to football is not associated with later-in-life brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Spaulding Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States.,Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Zachary C Merz
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,LeBauer Department of Neurology, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, NC, United States
| | - Fionn Büttner
- Physiotherapy and Sports Science, School of Public Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Douglas P Terry
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States.,Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
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36
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Baugh CM, Gedlaman MA, Daneshvar DH, Kroshus E. Factors Influencing College Football Players' Beliefs About Incurring Football-Related Dementia. Orthop J Sports Med 2021; 9:23259671211001129. [PMID: 33997067 PMCID: PMC8107942 DOI: 10.1177/23259671211001129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Football participation is associated with risks to acute and long-term
health, including the possibility of incurring football-related dementia.
Concerns have been raised regarding media coverage of these risks, which may
have influenced athletes’ beliefs. However, little is known about football
players’ views on football-related dementia. The risk-perception literature
suggests that related risk perceptions and features of individual cognition,
such as the ability to switch to reasoned, deliberative thinking, may
influence individual perception of a long-term risk. Purpose: To evaluate factors influencing college football players’ belief that they
are likely to incur football-related dementia in the future. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Members of 4 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Power 5
Football teams participated in this survey-based study, providing responses
to demographic, athletic, and risk-posture questions, and completed the
cognitive reflection test. Logistic regressions were used to evaluate
relationships between beliefs about football-related dementia and factors
including athletic and demographic characteristics, football risk posture,
health-risk posture, and cognitive reflection test score. Results: About 10% of the 296 participating athletes thought football-related dementia
was likely to occur in their future. Skill players had lower odds than
linemen of believing that football-related dementia was likely (odds ratio
[OR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14-0.89). For each additional suspected concussion in
an athlete’s career, his odds of believing football-related dementia was
likely increased by 24% (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07-1.45). Acute and chronic
football-related risk perceptions, as well as non–football-related
health-risk perceptions, were positively associated with athletes’
belief that football-related dementia was likely. Higher cognitive
reflection test scores, a measure of ability to switch to slow, deliberative
thinking, was positively associated with odds of believing football-related
dementia was likely (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12-2.21). Conclusion: Some athletes view football as generally riskier, while others view football
as generally lessri sky. These risk postures are informed by athletes’
concussion history, primary playing position, and ability to switch from
fast, reactive thinking to slow, deliberative thinking. Ensuring that
athletes are appropriately informed of the risks of participation is an
ethical obligation of universities; sports medicine clinicians are
appropriate facilitators of conversations about athletes’ health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Baugh
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mason A Gedlaman
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily Kroshus
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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37
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Howell DR, Kirkwood MW, Laker S, Wilson JC. Collision and Contact Sport Participation and Quality of Life Among Adolescent Athletes. J Athl Train 2021; 55:1174-1180. [PMID: 33112960 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0536.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Researchers investigating collision and contact sport participation during high school have found mixed results. Understanding the association between current contact and collision sport participation and quality-of-life outcomes can enhance our knowledge about the risks and benefits of sport participation. OBJECTIVE To examine quality-of-life outcomes among high school athletes who reported participation in collision and contact sports in the year preceding assessment compared with no- or limited-contact sport athletes. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Preparticipation physical examination. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS High school athletes 13 to 18 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) We obtained sport participation and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric-25 outcomes, which assess self-reported, quality-of-life domains in the preceding 7 days (ie, state assessment). Our grouping variable was collision and contact versus no- or limited-contact sport participation during the year preceding assessment. We used multivariable linear regression models to identify the associations between PROMIS scores and collision and contact sport participation and adjusted for sex; age; history of bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon injury; history of acute fracture or dislocation; and history of concussion. RESULTS A total of 143 (51%) athletes reported collision and contact sport participation (24% female, mean age = 15.1 ± 1.7 years) and 138 (49%) reported no- or limited-contact sport participation (66% female, mean age = 15.4 ± 1.2 years). A higher proportion of collision and contact sport athletes reported a history of time loss for bone, muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries (51% versus 29%, P < .001) and for acute fracture or dislocation (46% versus 26%, P < .001) than did no- or limited-contact athletes. After adjusting for covariates, we found that collision and contact sport participation was significantly associated with lower state anxiety (β = -1.072, 95% confidence interval = -1.834, -0.310, P = .006) and depressive (β = -0.807, 95% confidence interval = -1.484, -0.130, P = .020) symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS Collision and contact sport athletes reported fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms in the week preceding evaluation than did no- or limited-contact sport athletes, but they had more extensive orthopaedic injury histories. Potential benefits and risks are associated with collision and contact sport participation. These data reinforce the need to examine the assumption that youth collision and contact sports are associated with negative quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Howell
- Departments of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine Center, and Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora.,Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
| | - Michael W Kirkwood
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
| | - Scott Laker
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
| | - Julie C Wilson
- Departments of Orthopedics, Sports Medicine Center, and Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora.,Department of Orthopaedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.,Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
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38
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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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39
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Esopenko C, Meyer J, Wilde EA, Marshall AD, Tate DF, Lin AP, Koerte IK, Werner KB, Dennis EL, Ware AL, de Souza NL, Menefee DS, Dams-O'Connor K, Stein DJ, Bigler ED, Shenton ME, Chiou KS, Postmus JL, Monahan K, Eagan-Johnson B, van Donkelaar P, Merkley TL, Velez C, Hodges CB, Lindsey HM, Johnson P, Irimia A, Spruiell M, Bennett ER, Bridwell A, Zieman G, Hillary FG. A global collaboration to study intimate partner violence-related head trauma: The ENIGMA consortium IPV working group. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:475-503. [PMID: 33405096 PMCID: PMC8785101 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00417-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Intimate partner violence includes psychological aggression, physical violence, sexual violence, and stalking from a current or former intimate partner. Past research suggests that exposure to intimate partner violence can impact cognitive and psychological functioning, as well as neurological outcomes. These seem to be compounded in those who suffer a brain injury as a result of trauma to the head, neck or body due to physical and/or sexual violence. However, our understanding of the neurobehavioral and neurobiological effects of head trauma in this population is limited due to factors including difficulty in accessing/recruiting participants, heterogeneity of samples, and premorbid and comorbid factors that impact outcomes. Thus, the goal of the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium Intimate Partner Violence Working Group is to develop a global collaboration that includes researchers, clinicians, and other key community stakeholders. Participation in the working group can include collecting harmonized data, providing data for meta- and mega-analysis across sites, or stakeholder insight on key clinical research questions, promoting safety, participant recruitment and referral to support services. Further, to facilitate the mega-analysis of data across sites within the working group, we provide suggestions for behavioral surveys, cognitive tests, neuroimaging parameters, and genetics that could be used by investigators in the early stages of study design. We anticipate that the harmonization of measures across sites within the working group prior to data collection could increase the statistical power in characterizing how intimate partner violence-related head trauma impacts long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Esopenko
- Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA.
- Department of Health Informatics, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07107, USA.
| | - Jessica Meyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Summa Health System, Akron, OH, 44304, USA
| | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
| | - Amy D Marshall
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David F Tate
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
| | - Alexander P Lin
- Department of Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Inga K Koerte
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336, Munich, Germany
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kimberly B Werner
- College of Nursing, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
| | - Emily L Dennis
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
| | - Ashley L Ware
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Nicola L de Souza
- School of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | | | - Kristen Dams-O'Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7501, South Africa
| | - Erin D Bigler
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Martha E Shenton
- College of Nursing, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Veterans Affairs, Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Kathy S Chiou
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA
| | - Judy L Postmus
- School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA
| | - Kathleen Monahan
- School of Social Welfare, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8231, USA
| | | | - Paul van Donkelaar
- School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Tricia L Merkley
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Carmen Velez
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Cooper B Hodges
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Hannah M Lindsey
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Paula Johnson
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Andrei Irimia
- Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Denney Research Center Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Matthew Spruiell
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Esther R Bennett
- Rutgers University School of Social Work, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Ashley Bridwell
- Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Glynnis Zieman
- Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Frank G Hillary
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Social Life and Engineering Sciences Imaging Center, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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40
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McGuine TA, Pfaller A, Hetzel S, Broglio SP, Hammer E. A Prospective Study of Concussions and Health Outcomes in High School Football Players. J Athl Train 2021; 55:1013-1019. [PMID: 32946575 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-141-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Football is the most popular sport among US high school students and among the highest for sport-related concussion (SRC) incidence. Limited data detail how SRCs affect high school football players' psychosocial and health status beyond short-term injury recovery. OBJECTIVE To longitudinally assess how SRCs affected symptoms, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in high school football players up to 12 months after SRC. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Thirty-one Wisconsin high schools. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 1176 interscholastic football players (age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Participants completed the Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) for HRQoL at enrollment. Participants who sustained an SRC repeated each measure within 72 hours of their injury (onset) and at 7 days (D7), return to play (RTP), and 3 months (M3), 6 months (M6), and 12 months (M12) after SRC. Scores at each time point were compared with each participant's baseline using linear mixed models for repeated measures while controlling for age and previous SRC with participant as a random effect. RESULTS Sixty-two participants sustained an SRC. Participants reported a higher number of PCSS symptoms, greater symptom severity, and lower PedsQL physical summary scores at onset and D7. From RTP through M12, PCSS symptoms, PCSS severity scores, PedsQL total scores, physical summary, and psychosocial summary were unchanged or improved relative to baseline. The PHQ-9 scores were not higher than baseline at any post-SRC interval. CONCLUSIONS High school football players in this study who sustained an SRC described no sustained adverse health outcomes (increased PCSS symptoms or symptom severity, increased depression symptoms, or lower HRQoL) after their RTP through M12 after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A McGuine
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | | | - Scott Hetzel
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison
| | | | - Erin Hammer
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a significant public health problem. Understanding the behavioral and personal factors that influence risk and incidence of SRC is critically important for appropriate care and management. Sensation-seeking and impulsivity have been posited to be two such factors that may be significantly associated with SRC. We performed a focused review of recent evidence of the relationships between sensation-seeking and impulsivity in athletes with SRC. RECENT FINDINGS While the research is relatively limited, extant findings demonstrate a significant relationship between sensation-seeking and contact sport participation and risk of prior and future SRC. Impulsivity appears to be common among athletes competing in high contact sports and may contribute to neural and functional brain changes following SRC; however, causal relationships between impulsivity, contact sport participation, and SRC have not been demonstrated. Both sensation-seeking and impulsivity are significantly associated with SRC in collegiate athletes. Interventions designed to ameliorate high levels of these constructs may prove to be beneficial avenues to reducing SRC risk and improving patient care and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer W Liebel
- Neuropsychology Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Katherine A M Edwards
- Neuropsychology Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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42
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Caccese JB, Bodt BA, Iverson GL, Kaminski TW, Bryk K, Oldham J, Broglio SP, McCrea M, McAllister T, Buckley TA. Estimated Age of First Exposure to Contact Sports and Neurocognitive, Psychological, and Physical Outcomes in Healthy NCAA Collegiate Athletes: A Cohort Study. Sports Med 2021; 50:1377-1392. [PMID: 32002824 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-020-01261-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Collegiate football players who started playing tackle football before age 12 years did not show worse neuropsychological test performance than those who started playing tackle football after age 12 years. It is unknown if beginning other contact sports, such as lacrosse, at a younger age is associated with worse neurocognitive performance, greater psychological distress, or worse postural stability in collegiate student athletes. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the association between estimated age of first exposure (eAFE) to repetitive head impacts (RHI) and these outcome measures in collegiate student athletes. METHODS 1891 female and 4448 male collision/contact (i.e., football, ice hockey, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer) and non-contact (i.e., golf, rifle, rowing/crew, swimming, tennis) sport athletes completed baseline testing, including the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). RESULTS For women, the eAFE-by-sport interaction was associated with ImPACT Verbal Memory and Visual Memory, whereby earlier eAFE to contact sports was associated with higher composite scores (B = - 0.397, B = - 0.485, respectively). For men, the eAFE-by-sport interaction was associated with BSI-18 Depression and Global Severity Index and symptom severity scores, whereby earlier eAFE to football was associated with lower psychological distress and symptom severity [Depression, Exp(B) = 1.057; Global Severity Index, Exp(B) = 1.047; Symptom Severity, Exp(B) = 1.046]. Parameter estimates were small suggesting these results may have minimal practical relevance. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that RHI during early adolescence is unrelated to brain health as measured by these specific outcome measures in collegiate student athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 453 W 10th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Barry A Bodt
- College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Spaulding Research Institute, MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program and Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, USA.,Center for Health and Rehabilitation Research, 79/96 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, MA, 20129, USA
| | - Thomas W Kaminski
- Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, 541 S. College Ave, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Kelsey Bryk
- Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - Jessie Oldham
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Boston Children's Hospital, 9 Hope Ave, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, 401 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA
| | - Michael McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Thomas McAllister
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Goodman Hall, 355 W. 16th St., Suite 4800, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Thomas A Buckley
- Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE, 19713, USA.
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Williams VJ, Carlsson CM, Fischer A, Johnson SC, Lange K, Partridge E, Roan C, Asthana S, Herd P. Assessing Dementia Prevalence in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study: Cohort Profile, Protocol, and Preliminary Findings. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:751-768. [PMID: 33843672 PMCID: PMC10551824 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing consensus that non-genetic determinants of dementia can be linked to various risk- and resiliency-enhancing factors accumulating throughout the lifespan, including socioeconomic conditions, early life experiences, educational attainment, lifestyle behaviors, and physical/mental health. Yet, the causal impact of these diverse factors on dementia risk remain poorly understood due to few longitudinal studies prospectively characterizing these influences across the lifespan. OBJECTIVE The Initial Lifespan's Impact on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ILIAD) study aims to characterize dementia prevalence in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), a 60-year longitudinal study documenting life course trajectories of educational, family, occupational, psychological, cognitive, and health measures. METHODS Participants are surveyed using the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) to identify dementia risk. Those scoring below cutoff undergo home-based neuropsychological, physical/neurological, and functional assessments. Dementia diagnosis is determined by consensus panel and merged with existing WLS data for combined analysis. RESULTS Preliminary findings demonstrate the initial success of the ILIAD protocol in detecting dementia prevalence in the WLS. Increasing age, hearing issues, lower IQ, male sex, APOE4 positivity, and a steeper annualized rate of memory decline assessed in the prior two study waves, all increased likelihood of falling below the TICS-m cutoff for dementia risk. TICS-m scores significantly correlated with standard neuropsychological performance and functional outcomes. CONCLUSION We provide an overview of the WLS study, describe existing key lifespan variables relevant to studies of dementia and cognitive aging, detail the current WLS-ILIAD study protocol, and provide a first glimpse of preliminary study findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J. Williams
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Carlsson
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anne Fischer
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kate Lange
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Eileen Partridge
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Carol Roan
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Department of Sociology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sanjay Asthana
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin at Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pamela Herd
- McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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44
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Prien A, Feddermann-Demont N, Verhagen E, Twisk J, Junge A. Neurocognitive performance and mental health of retired female football players compared to non-contact sport athletes. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2020; 6:e000952. [PMID: 33312682 PMCID: PMC7716672 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adverse long-term effects of playing football due to repetitive head impact exposure on neurocognition and mental health are controversial. To date, no studies have evaluated such effects in women. Aims To (1) compare neurocognitive performance, cognitive symptoms and mental health in retired elite female football players (FB) with retired elite female non-contact sport athletes (CON), and to (2) assess whether findings are related to history of concussion and/or heading exposure in FB. Methods Neurocognitive performance, mental health and cognitive symptoms were assessed using computerised tests (CNS-vital signs), paper pen tests (Category fluency, Trail-Making Test, Digit Span, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test), questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SF-36v2 Health Survey) and a symptom checklist. Heading exposure and concussion history were self-reported in an online survey and in a clinical interview, respectively. Linear regression was used to analyse the effect of football, concussion and heading exposure on outcomes adjusted for confounders. Results FB (n=66) performed similar to CON (n=45) on neurocognitive tests, except for significantly lower scores on verbal memory (mean difference (MD)=−7.038, 95% CI −12.98 to –0.08, p=0.038) and verbal fluency tests (MD=−7.534, 95% CI –13.75 to –0.46, p=0.016). Among FB weaker verbal fluency performance was significantly associated with ≥2 concussions (MD=−10.36, 95% CI –18.48 to –2.83, p=0.017), and weaker verbal memory performance with frequent heading (MD=−9.166, 95% CI –17.59 to –0.123, p=0.041). The depression score differed significantly between study populations, and was significantly associated with frequent heading but not with history of concussion in FB. Conclusion Further studies should investigate the clinical relevance of our findings and whether the observed associations point to a causal link between repetitive head impacts and verbal memory/fluency or mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Prien
- Fakultät Humanwissenschaften, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nina Feddermann-Demont
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Swiss Concussion Center (SCC), Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Evert Verhagen
- Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Human Biology, Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Jos Twisk
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid Junge
- Fakultät Humanwissenschaften, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,Swiss Concussion Center (SCC), Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland
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45
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Willer BS, Haider MN, Wilber C, Esopenko C, Turner M, Leddy J. Long-Term Neurocognitive, Mental Health Consequences of Contact Sports. Clin Sports Med 2020; 40:173-186. [PMID: 33187607 DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2020.08.012] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This article presents a brief history and literature review of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in professional athletes that played contact sports. The hypothesis that CTE results from concussion or sub-concussive blows is based largely on several case series investigations with considerable bias. Evidence of CTE in its clinical presentation has not been generally noted in studies of living retired athletes. However, these studies also demonstrated limitation in research methodology. This paper aims to present a balanced perspective amidst a politically charged subject matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry S Willer
- Department of Psychiatry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Concussion Management Clinic and Research Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, 160 Farber Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
| | - Mohammad Nadir Haider
- UBMD Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Concussion Management Clinic and Research Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, 160 Farber Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Charles Wilber
- UBMD Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Concussion Management Clinic and Research Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, 160 Farber Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Carrie Esopenko
- Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Rutgers University, 65 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07107, USA
| | - Michael Turner
- International Concussion and Head Injury Foundation, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, 170 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7HA, UK
| | - John Leddy
- UBMD Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Concussion Management Clinic and Research Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, 160 Farber Hall, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
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46
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LoBue C, Munro C, Schaffert J, Didehbani N, Hart J, Batjer H, Cullum CM. Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Long-Term Brain Changes, Accumulation of Pathological Markers, and Developing Dementia: A Review. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 70:629-654. [PMID: 31282414 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have received widespread media attention in recent years as being a risk factor for the development of dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This has sparked fears about the potential long-term effects of TBI of any severity on cognitive aging, leading to a public health concern. This article reviews the evidence surrounding TBI as a risk factor for the later development of changes in brain structure and function, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders. A number of studies have shown evidence of long-term brain changes and accumulation of pathological biomarkers (e.g., amyloid and tau proteins) related to a history of moderate-to-severe TBI, and research has also demonstrated that individuals with moderate-to-severe injuries have an increased risk of dementia. While milder injuries have been found to be associated with an increased risk for dementia in some recent studies, reports on long-term brain changes have been mixed and often are complicated by factors related to injury exposure (i.e., number of injuries) and severity/complications, psychiatric conditions, and opioid use disorder. CTE, although often described as a neurodegenerative disorder, remains a neuropathological condition that is poorly understood. Future research is needed to clarify the significance of CTE pathology and determine whether that can explain any clinical symptoms. Overall, it is clear that most individuals who sustain a TBI (particularly milder injuries) do not experience worse outcomes with aging, as the incidence for dementia is found to be less than 7% across the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian LoBue
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Catherine Munro
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schaffert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nyaz Didehbani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John Hart
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hunt Batjer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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47
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of mental health concerns in young athletes, with a focus on common disorders, as well as population-specific risk factors. RECENT FINDINGS Athletes experience similar mental health concerns as non-athlete peers, such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, ADHD, eating disorders, and substance abuse. However, they also experience unique stressors that put them at risk for the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders. Student athletes have to balance academics with rigorous training regimens while focusing on optimal performance and managing high expectations. Physical injuries, overtraining, concussion, sleep disorders, and social identity are some of the factors that also impact the mental health of student athletes. Existing literature highlights the need to develop proactive mental health and wellness education for young athletes, and to develop services that recognize the unique needs of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Xanthopoulos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Tami Benton
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jason Lewis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia A Case
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christina L Master
- Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine, Division of Pediatric Orthopedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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48
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Fields L, Didehbani N, Hart J, Cullum CM. No Linear Association Between Number of Concussions or Years Played and Cognitive Outcomes in Retired NFL Players. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2020; 35:233-239. [PMID: 30844072 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the current study is to examine whether concussion history and years played are linearly associated with cognitive outcomes in retired National Football League (NFL) players. METHOD Thirty-five retired NFL players over the age of 50 who had sustained at least one concussion completed a clinical interview and brief neuropsychological battery. Correlational analyses were conducted between exposure variables [number of total concussions, concussions with loss of consciousness (LOC), and years played] and cognitive performance as characterized by cognitive composite scores based on performance on neuropsychological measures (attention/processing speed, language, memory, and overall composite scores). RESULTS Correlational analyses corrected for multiple comparisons did not reveal any statistically significant correlations between exposure variables and cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We did not find a significant linear association between cognitive outcomes and either number of total concussions, concussions with LOC, or years played in the NFL. These findings do not support a dose-response relationship between sports-related exposure to head impacts and cognitive outcomes later in life. Rather, the findings suggest that cognitive difficulties experienced by some retired players later in life are not directly linearly associated with quantified exposure to head impacts sustained throughout a football career, but related to factors or combinations of factors that have yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindy Fields
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nyaz Didehbani
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John Hart
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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49
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Cognitive Ageing in Top-Level Female Soccer Players Compared to a Normative Sample from the General Population: A Cross-sectional Study. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2020; 26:645-653. [PMID: 32098636 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720000119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is an ongoing debate on the potential negative effect of contact sport participation on long-term neurocognitive performance due to inherent exposure to concussive and subconcussive head impacts. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cognitive ageing is exacerbated in elite soccer players compared to the general population. METHOD Neurocognitive performance in 6 domains was compared between 240 elite soccer players and a normative sample from the general population (n = 585) using the computerised test battery CNS Vital Signs. We used two-way factorial ANOVA to analyse the interaction between age groups (15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 years) and study population (female soccer players vs. norm sample) in their effects on neurocognitive performance. RESULTS We found no significant interaction effect of age group and study population in five of six test domains. For processing speed, the effect of age was more pronounced in female soccer players (F = 16.89, p = .002). Further, there was a clear main effect of study population on neurocognitive performance with generally better scores in soccer players. CONCLUSIONS Elite female soccer players generally performed better than the norm sample on tests of cognitive function, and further, cognitive ageing effects were similar in elite soccer players and controls in all but one domain. A lifespan approach may facilitate insightful future research regarding questions related to long-term neurocognitive health in contact sport athletes.
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50
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Phelps A, Mez J, Stern RA, Alosco ML. Risk Factors for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Proposed Framework. Semin Neurol 2020; 40:439-449. [PMID: 32674182 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been neuropathologically diagnosed in contact and collision sport athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI). Identifying methods to diagnose and prevent CTE during life is a high priority. Timely diagnosis and implementation of treatment and preventative strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, including CTE, partially hinge upon early and accurate risk characterization. Here, we propose a framework of risk factors that influence the neuropathological development of CTE. We provide an up-to-date review of the literature examining cumulative exposure to RHI as the environmental trigger for CTE. Because not all individuals exposed to RHI develop CTE, the direct and/or indirect influence of nonhead trauma exposure characteristics (e.g., age, sex, race, genetics) on the pathological development of CTE is reviewed. We conclude with recommendations for future directions, as well as opinions for preventative strategies that could mitigate risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Phelps
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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