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Bazarian JJ, Abar B, Merchant-Borna K, Pham DL, Rozen E, Mannix R, Kawata K, Chou Y, Stephen S, Gill JM. A Pilot Study Investigating the Use of Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein to Monitor Changes in Brain White Matter Integrity After Repetitive Head Hits During a Single Collegiate Football Game. J Neurotrauma 2024; 41:1597-1608. [PMID: 38753702 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0307] [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: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Repetitive head hits (RHHs) in sports and military settings are increasingly recognized as a risk factor for adverse neurological outcomes, but they are not currently tracked. Blood-based biomarkers of concussion have recently been shown to increase after nonconcussive RHHs during a single sporting contest, raising the possibility that they could be used in real time to monitor the brain's early response to repeated asymptomatic head hits. To test this hypothesis, we measured GFAP in serum immediately before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 45 min (T2) after a single collegiate football game in 30 athletes. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) changes were correlated with three measures of head impact exposure (number of hits, total linear acceleration, and total rotational acceleration captured by helmet impact sensors) and to changes in brain white matter (WM) integrity, estimated by regional changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) on diffusion tensor imaging from 24 h before (T1) to 48 h after (T3) the game. To account for the potentially confounding effects of physical exertion on GFAP, correlations were adjusted for kilocalories of energy expended during the game measured by wearable body sensors. All 30 participants were male with a mean age of 19.5 ± 1.2 years. No participant had a concussion during the index game. We observed a significant increase in GFAP from T0 to T1 (mean 79.69 vs. 91.95 pg/mL, p = 0.008) and from T0 to T2 (mean 79.69 vs. 99.21 pg/mL, p < 0.001). WM integrity decreased in multiple WM regions but was statistically significant in the right fornix (mean % FA change -1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.20, -0.66). T0 to T2 increases in GFAP correlated with reduced FA in the left fornix, right fornix, and right medical meniscus and with increased MD in the right fornix (r-values ranged from 0.59 to 0.61). Adjustment for exertion had minimal effect on these correlations. GFAP changes did not correlate to head hit exposure, but after adjustment for exertion, T0 to T2 increases correlated with all three hit metrics (r-values ranged from 0.69 to 0.74). Thus, acute elevations in GFAP after a single collegiate football game of RHHs correlated with in-game head hit exposure and with reduced WM integrity 2 days later. These results suggest that GFAP may be a biologically relevant indicator of the brain's early response to RHHs during a single sporting event. Developing tools to measure the neurological response to RHHs on an individual level has the potential to provide insight into the heterogeneity in adverse outcomes after RHH exposure and for developing effective and personalized countermeasures. Owing to the small sample size, these findings should be considered preliminary; validation in a larger, independent cohort is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Bazarian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Beau Abar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Kian Merchant-Borna
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Dzung L Pham
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric Rozen
- Department of Athletics and Recreation, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Keisuke Kawata
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Yiyu Chou
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Steve Stephen
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jessica M Gill
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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D'Souza GM, Churchill NW, Guan DX, Khoury MA, Graham SJ, Kumar S, Fischer CE, Schweizer TA. Interaction of Alzheimer Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury on Cortical Thickness. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2024; 38:14-21. [PMID: 38285961 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with an accelerated course of dementia, although biological relationships are incompletely understood. METHODS The study examined 1124 participants, including 343 with Alzheimer disease (AD), 127 with AD with TBI, 266 cognitively normal adults with TBI, and 388 cognitively normal adults without TBI. Cortical thickness was quantified from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the interaction between AD and TBI on cortical thickness. RESULTS Among those with AD, TBI was associated with an earlier age of AD onset but, counterintuitively, less cortical thinning in frontotemporal regions relative to non-AD controls. DISCUSSION AD with TBI represents a distinct group from AD, likely with distinct pathologic contributions beyond gray matter loss. This finding has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of AD in the presence of TBI and indicates that models of AD, aging, and neural loss should account for TBI history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M D'Souza
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
- Keenan Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
| | - Nathan W Churchill
- Keenan Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital
- Physics Department, Toronto Metropolitan University
| | - Dylan X Guan
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Marc A Khoury
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
- Keenan Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
| | - Simon J Graham
- Departments of Medical Biophysics
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
- Psychiatry
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON
| | - Corinne E Fischer
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
- Psychiatry
- Keenan Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery
- Keenan Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital
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Kang N. Increased Cerebellar Gray Matter Volume in Athletes: A Voxel-Wise Coordinate-Based Meta-Analysis. RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT 2023; 94:597-608. [PMID: 35438607 DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2022.2026285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis study was to investigate distinct brain structural characteristics in athletes as compared with those in non-athletes by quantifying regional gray matter (GM) volume changes using voxel-based morphometry analysis based on a whole-brain approach. Methods: The systematic literature search was conducted from November 1, 2020 to October 18, 2021 via the two search engines including the PubMed and Web of Science. We included 13 studies that reported GM volume data in 229 athletes as compared 219 non-athletes based on the whole-brain analysis with specific three-dimensional coordinates in a standard stereotactic space. Thus, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis using the seed-based d mapping via permutation of subject images methods. Result: The coordinate-based meta-analysis reported that the athletes significantly reveal greater regional GM volume across right cerebellar lobules IV-V and Brodmann area 37 regions than those in the non-athletes with minimal levels of heterogeneity and publication bias between the included studies. The subgroup analyses show that greater GM volume for athletes in closed-skill sports appeared across the right cerebellar hemispheric lobules VIII and the right cingulum than those for non-athletes. Conclusion: These cumulative findings from multiple brain imaging studies suggest potential brain plasticity evidence in the athletes who experienced extensive motor training.
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Owens TS, Marley CJ, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Fall L, Tsukamoto H, Iannetelli A, Filipponi T, Davies B, Jones GL, Hirtz C, Lehmann S, Tuaillon E, Marchi N, Bailey DM. Lower systemic nitric oxide bioactivity, cerebral hypoperfusion and accelerated cognitive decline in formerly concussed retired rugby union players. Exp Physiol 2023; 108:1029-1046. [PMID: 37423736 PMCID: PMC10988504 DOI: 10.1113/ep091195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? What are the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive biomarkers of retired rugby union players with concussion history? What is the main finding and its importance? Retired rugby players compared with matched controls exhibited lower systemic nitric oxide bioavailability accompanied by lower middle cerebral artery velocity and mild cognitive impairment. Retired rugby players are more susceptible to accelerated cognitive decline. ABSTRACT Following retirement from sport, the chronic consequences of prior-recurrent contact are evident and retired rugby union players may be especially prone to accelerated cognitive decline. The present study sought to integrate molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive biomarkers in retired rugby players with concussion history. Twenty retired rugby players aged 64 ± 5 years with three (interquartile range (IQR), 3) concussions incurred over 22 (IQR, 6) years were compared to 21 sex-, age-, cardiorespiratory fitness- and education-matched controls with no prior concussion history. Concussion symptoms and severity were assessed using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. Plasma/serum nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence), neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light-chain (ELISA and single molecule array) were assessed. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv, doppler ultrasound) and reactivity to hyper/hypocapnia (CVR CO 2 hyper ${\mathrm{CVR}}_{{\mathrm{CO}}_{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{hyper}}}$ /CVR CO 2 hypo ${\mathrm{CVR}}_{{\mathrm{CO}}_{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{hypo}}}$ ) were assessed. Cognition was determined using the Grooved Pegboard Test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Players exhibited persistent neurological symptoms of concussion (U = 109(41) , P = 0.007), with increased severity compared to controls (U = 77(41) , P < 0.001). Lower total NO bioactivity (U = 135(41) , P = 0.049) and lower basal MCAv were apparent in players (F2,39 = 9.344, P = 0.004). This was accompanied by mild cognitive impairment (P = 0.020, 95% CI, -3.95 to -0.34), including impaired fine-motor coordination (U = 141(41) , P = 0.021). Retired rugby union players with history of multiple concussions may be characterised by impaired molecular, cerebral haemodynamic and cognitive function compared to non-concussed, non-contact controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S. Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Christopher J. Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Thomas A. Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Benjamin S. Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Lewis Fall
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and ScienceUniversity of South WalesUK
| | | | - Angelo Iannetelli
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Teresa Filipponi
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Bruce Davies
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Gareth L. Jones
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- LBPC‐PPCUniversity of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine‐Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC‐PPCUniversity of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine‐Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Edouard Tuaillon
- CHU Montpellier, Department of Bacteriology‐VirologyCentre University ofMontpellierFrance
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of NeuroscienceInstitute of Functional Genomics (University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM)MontpellierFrance
| | - Damian M. Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
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Penn C, Katnik C, Cuevas J, Mohapatra SS, Mohapatra S. Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT): Monitoring neurovascular changes in a mouse repetitive traumatic brain injury model. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 393:109876. [PMID: 37150303 PMCID: PMC10388337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109876] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that mild TBI injuries, which comprise > 75% of all TBIs, can cause chronic post-concussive symptoms, especially when experienced repetitively (rTBI). rTBI is a major cause of cognitive deficit in athletes and military personnel and is associated with neurovascular changes. Current methods to monitor neurovascular changes in detail are prohibitively expensive and invasive for patients with mild injuries. NEW METHOD We evaluated the potential of multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) to monitor neurovascular changes and assess therapeutic strategies in a mouse model of rTBI. Mice were subjected to rTBI or sham via controlled cortical impact and administered pioglitazone (PG) or vehicle. Oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin were monitored using MSOT. Indocyanine green clearance was imaged via MSOT to evaluate blood-brain-barrier (BBB) integrity. RESULTS Mice subjected to rTBI show a transient increase in oxygenated/total hemoglobin ratio which can be mitigated by PG administration. rTBI mice also show BBB disruption shortly after injury and reduction of oxygenated/total hemoglobin in the chronic stage, neither of which were affected by PG intervention. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS MSOT imaging has the potential as a noninvasive in vivo imaging method to monitor neurovascular changes and assess therapeutics in mouse models of rTBI. In comparison to standard methods of tracking inflammation and BBB disruption, MSOT can be used multiple times throughout the course of injury without the need for surgery. Thus, MSOT is especially useful in research of rTBI models for screening therapeutics, and with further technological improvements may be extended for use in rTBI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Penn
- James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Chris Katnik
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Javier Cuevas
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Shyam S Mohapatra
- James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Subhra Mohapatra
- James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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6
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Moro F, Lisi I, Tolomeo D, Vegliante G, Pascente R, Mazzone E, Hussain R, Micotti E, Dallmeier J, Pischiutta F, Bianchi E, Chiesa R, Wang KK, Zanier ER. Acute Blood Levels of Neurofilament Light Indicate One-Year White Matter Pathology and Functional Impairment in Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injured Mice. J Neurotrauma 2023. [PMID: 36576018 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) mostly causes transient symptoms, but repeated (r)mTBI can lead to neurodegenerative processes. Diagnostic tools to evaluate the presence of ongoing occult neuropathology are lacking. In a mouse model of rmTBI, we investigated MRI and plasma biomarkers of brain damage before chronic functional impairment arose. Anesthetized adult male and female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to rmTBI or a sham procedure. Sensorimotor deficits were evaluated up to 12 months post-injury in SNAP and Neuroscore tests. Cognitive function was assessed in the novel object recognition test at six and 12 months. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed at six and 12 months to examine white matter and structural damage. Plasma levels of neurofilament light (NfL) were assessed longitudinally up to 12 months. Brain histopathology was performed at 12 months. Independent groups of mice were used to examine the effects of 2-, 7- and 14-days inter-injury intervals on acute plasma NfL levels and on hyperactivity. Twelve months after an acute transient impairment, sensorimotor functions declined again in rmTBI mice (p < 0.001 vs sham), but not earlier. Similarly, rmTBI mice showed memory impairment at 12 (p < 0.01 vs sham) but not at 6 months. White matter damage examined by DTI was evident in rmTBI mice at both six and 12 months (p < 0.001 vs sham). This was associated with callosal atrophy (p < 0.001 vs sham) evaluated by structural MRI. Plasma NfL at one week was elevated in rmTBI (p < 0.001 vs sham), and its level correlated with callosal atrophy at 12 months (Pearson r = 0.72, p < 0.01). Histopathology showed thinning of the corpus callosum and marked astrogliosis in rmTBI mice. The NfL levels were higher in mice subjected to short (2 days) compared with longer (7 and 14 days) inter-injury intervals (p < 0.05), and this correlated with hyperactivity in mice (Pearson r = 0.50; p < 0.05). These findings show that rmTBI causes white matter pathology detectable by MRI before chronic functional impairment. Early quantification of plasma NfL correlates with the degree of white matter atrophy one year after rmTBI and can serve to monitor the brain's susceptibility to a second mTBI, supporting its potential clinical application to guide the return to practice in sport-related TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Moro
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lisi
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Tolomeo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Gloria Vegliante
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosaria Pascente
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Mazzone
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Riaz Hussain
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Micotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Julian Dallmeier
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Francesca Pischiutta
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Bianchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Chiesa
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Kevin K Wang
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics & Biomarkers Research, Departments of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Elisa R Zanier
- Department of Acute Brain Injury, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:42-121. [PMID: 33721207 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-021-09485-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is able to detect tissue alterations following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that may not be observed on conventional neuroimaging; however, findings are often inconsistent between studies. This systematic review assesses patterns of differences in DWI metrics between those with and without a history of mTBI. A PubMed literature search was performed using relevant indexing terms for articles published prior to May 14, 2020. Findings were limited to human studies using DWI in mTBI. Articles were excluded if they were not full-length, did not contain original data, if they were case studies, pertained to military populations, had inadequate injury severity classification, or did not report post-injury interval. Findings were reported independently for four subgroups: acute/subacute pediatric mTBI, acute/subacute adult mTBI, chronic adult mTBI, and sport-related concussion, and all DWI acquisition and analysis methods used were included. Patterns of findings between studies were reported, along with strengths and weaknesses of the current state of the literature. Although heterogeneity of sample characteristics and study methods limited the consistency of findings, alterations in DWI metrics were most commonly reported in the corpus callosum, corona radiata, internal capsule, and long association pathways. Many acute/subacute pediatric studies reported higher FA and lower ADC or MD in various regions. In contrast, acute/subacute adult studies most commonly indicate lower FA within the context of higher MD and RD. In the chronic phase of recovery, FA may remain low, possibly indicating overall demyelination or Wallerian degeneration over time. Longitudinal studies, though limited, generally indicate at least a partial normalization of DWI metrics over time, which is often associated with functional improvement. We conclude that DWI is able to detect structural mTBI-related abnormalities that may persist over time, although future DWI research will benefit from larger samples, improved data analysis methods, standardized reporting, and increasing transparency.
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Lee D, Lee Y, Lee Y, Kim K. Functional Connectivity in the Mouse Brainstem Represents Signs of Recovery from Concussion. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:240-249. [PMID: 36103389 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is one of the most frequent neurological disorders. Diagnostic criteria for mTBI are based on cognitive or neurological symptoms without fully understanding the neuropathological basis for explaining behaviors. From the neuropathological perspective of mTBI, recent neuroimaging studies have focused on structural or functional differences in motor-related cortical regions but did not compare topological network properties between the post-concussion days in the brainstem. We investigated temporal changes in functional connectivity and evaluated network properties of functional networks in the mouse brainstem. We observed a significantly decreased functional connectivity and global and local network properties on post-concussion day 7, which normalized on post-concussion day 14. Functional connectivity and local network properties on post-concussion day 2 were also significantly decreased compared with those on post-concussion day 14, but there were no significant group differences in global network properties between days 2 and 14. We also observed that the local efficiency and clustering coefficient of the brainstem network were significantly correlated with anxiety-like behaviors on post-concussion days 7 and 14. This study suggests that functional connectivity in the mouse brainstem provides vital recovery signs from concussion through functional reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongha Lee
- Cognitive Science Research Group and Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujeong Lee
- Cognitive Science Research Group and Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonsang Lee
- Cognitive Science Research Group and Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kipom Kim
- Research Strategy Office, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea
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Hoffman LJ, Mis RE, Brough C, Ramirez S, Langford D, Giovannetti T, Olson IR. Concussions in young adult athletes: No effect on cerebral white matter. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1113971. [PMID: 36936617 PMCID: PMC10014705 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1113971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The media's recent focus on possible negative health outcomes following sports- related concussion has increased awareness as well as anxiety among parents and athletes. However, the literature on concussion outcomes is equivocal and limited by a variety of diagnostic approaches. Methods The current study used a rigorous, open- access concussion identification method-the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification method (OSU TBI-ID) to identify concussion and periods of repeated, subclinical head trauma in 108 young adult athletes who also underwent a comprehensive protocol of cognitive tests, mood/anxiety questionnaires, and high-angular-resolution diffusion-weighted brain imaging to evaluate potential changes in white matter microstructure. Results Analyses showed that athletes with a history of repetitive, subclinical impacts to the head performed slightly worse on a measure of inhibitory impulse control and had more anxiety symptoms compared to those who never sustained any type of head injury but were otherwise the same as athletes with no history of concussion. Importantly, there were no group differences in cerebral white matter as measured by tract- based spatial statistics (TBSS), nor were there any associations between OSU TBI-ID measures and whole-brain principal scalars and free-water corrected scalars. Discussion Our results provide support for the hypothesis that it is not concussion per se, but repetitive head impacts that beget worse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J. Hoffman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rachel E. Mis
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Caroline Brough
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Servio Ramirez
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dianne Langford
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Tania Giovannetti
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ingrid R. Olson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Ingrid R. Olson,
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10
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Pinky NN, Debert CT, Dukelow SP, Benson BW, Harris AD, Yeates KO, Emery CA, Goodyear BG. Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging of youth sport-related concussion reveals acute changes in the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and corpus callosum that resolve with recovery. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:976013. [PMID: 36337852 PMCID: PMC9626521 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.976013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide a number of measurements relevant to sport-related concussion (SRC) symptoms; however, most studies to date have used a single MRI modality and whole-brain exploratory analyses in attempts to localize concussion injury. This has resulted in highly variable findings across studies due to wide ranging symptomology, severity and nature of injury within studies. A multimodal MRI, symptom-guided region-of-interest (ROI) approach is likely to yield more consistent results. The functions of the cerebellum and basal ganglia transcend many common concussion symptoms, and thus these regions, plus the white matter tracts that connect or project from them, constitute plausible ROIs for MRI analysis. We performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), resting-state functional MRI, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging using arterial spin labeling (ASL), in youth aged 12-18 years following SRC, with a focus on the cerebellum, basal ganglia and white matter tracts. Compared to controls similar in age, sex and sport (N = 20), recent SRC youth (N = 29; MRI at 8 ± 3 days post injury) exhibited increased susceptibility in the cerebellum (p = 0.032), decreased functional connectivity between the caudate and each of the pallidum (p = 0.035) and thalamus (p = 0.021), and decreased diffusivity in the mid-posterior corpus callosum (p < 0.038); no changes were observed in recovered asymptomatic youth (N = 16; 41 ± 16 days post injury). For recent symptomatic-only SRC youth (N = 24), symptom severity was associated with increased susceptibility in the superior cerebellar peduncles (p = 0.011) and reduced activity in the cerebellum (p = 0.013). Fewer days between injury and MRI were associated with reduced cerebellar-parietal functional connectivity (p < 0.014), reduced activity of the pallidum (p = 0.002), increased CBF in the caudate (p = 0.005), and reduced diffusivity in the central corpus callosum (p < 0.05). Youth SRC is associated with acute cerebellar inflammation accompanied by reduced cerebellar activity and cerebellar-parietal connectivity, as well as structural changes of the middle regions of the corpus callosum accompanied by functional changes of the caudate, all of which resolve with recovery. Early MRI post-injury is important to establish objective MRI-based indicators for concussion diagnosis, recovery assessment and prediction of outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najratun Nayem Pinky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Chantel T. Debert
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sean P. Dukelow
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Brian W. Benson
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Benson Concussion Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ashley D. Harris
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Keith O. Yeates
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carolyn A. Emery
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Sports Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bradley G. Goodyear
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Seaman Family MR Research Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Bradley G. Goodyear,
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11
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Raikes AC, Hernandez GD, Mullins VA, Wang Y, Lopez C, Killgore WDS, Chilton FH, Brinton RD. Effects of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaoic acid supplementation on white matter integrity after repetitive sub-concussive head impacts during American football: Exploratory neuroimaging findings from a pilot RCT. Front Neurol 2022; 13:891531. [PMID: 36188406 PMCID: PMC9521411 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.891531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Repetitive sub-concussive head impacts (RSHIs) are common in American football and result in changes to the microstructural integrity of white matter. Both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaoic acid (EPA) supplementation exerted neuroprotective effects against RSHIs in animal models and in a prior study in football players supplemented with DHA alone. Objective Here, we present exploratory neuroimaging outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of DHA + EPA supplementation in American football players. We hypothesized that supplementation would result in less white matter integrity loss on diffusion weighted imaging over the season. Design setting participants We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 38 American football players between June 2019 and January 2020. Intervention Participants were randomized to the treatment (2.442 g/day DHA and 1.020 g/day EPA) or placebo group for five times-per-week supplementation for 7 months. Of these, 27 participants were included in the neuroimaging data analysis (n = 16 placebo; n = 11 DHA + EPA). Exploratory outcome measures Changes in white matter integrity were quantified using both voxelwise diffusion kurtosis scalars and deterministic tractography at baseline and end of season. Additional neuroimaging outcomes included changes in regional gray matter volume as well as intra-regional, edge-wise, and network level functional connectivity. Serum neurofilament light (NfL) provided a peripheral biomarker of axonal damage. Results No voxel-wise between-group differences were identified on diffusion tensor metrics. Deterministic tractography using quantitative anisotropy (QA) revealed increased structural connectivity in ascending corticostriatal fibers and decreased connectivity in long association and commissural fibers in the DHA+EPA group compared to the placebo group. Serum NfL increases were correlated with increased mean (ρ = 0.47), axial (ρ = 0.44), and radial (ρ = 0.51) diffusivity and decreased QA (ρ = -0.52) in the corpus callosum and bilateral corona radiata irrespective of treatment group. DHA + EPA supplementation did preserve default mode/frontoparietal control network connectivity (g = 0.96, p = 0.024). Conclusions These exploratory findings did not provide strong evidence that DHA + EPA prevented or protected against axonal damage as quantified via neuroimaging. Neuroprotective effects on functional connectivity were observed despite white matter damage. Further studies with larger samples are needed to fully establish the relationship between omega-3 supplementation, RSHIs, and neuroimaging biomarkers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT04796207.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C. Raikes
- Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gerson D. Hernandez
- Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Veronica A. Mullins
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Claudia Lopez
- Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - William D. S. Killgore
- Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Floyd H. Chilton
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Roberta D. Brinton
- Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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12
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Brett BL, Nelson LD, Meier TB. The Association Between Concussion History and Increased Symptom Severity Reporting Is Independent of Common Medical Comorbidities, Personality Factors, and Sleep Quality in Collegiate Athletes. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2022; 37:E258-E267. [PMID: 34570026 PMCID: PMC8940748 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000724] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated the degree to which the association between history of concussion with psychological distress and general symptom severity is independent of several factors commonly associated with elevated symptom severity. We also examined whether symptom severity endorsement was associated with concussion injury specifically or response to injury in general. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Collegiate athletes ( N = 106; age: M = 21.37 ± 1.69 years; 33 female) were enrolled on the basis of strict medical/psychiatric exclusion criteria. DESIGN Cross-sectional single-visit study. Comprehensive assessment, including semistructured interviews to retrospectively diagnose the number of previous concussions, was completed. Single-predictor and stepwise regression models were fit to examine the predictive value of prior concussion and orthopedic injuries on symptom severity, both individually and controlling for confounding factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Psychological distress was operationalized as Brief Symptom Inventory-18 Global Severity Index (BSI-GSI) ratings; concussion-related symptom severity was measured using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. RESULTS Controlling for baseline factors associated with the symptom outcomes (agreeableness, neuroticism, negative emotionality, and sleep quality), concussion history was significantly associated with psychological distress ( B = 1.25 [0.55]; P = .025, Δ R2 = 0.034) and concussion-like symptom severity ( B = 0.22 [0.08]; P = .005, Δ R2 = 0.064) and accounted for a statistically significant amount of unique variance in symptom outcomes. Orthopedic injury history was not individually predictive of psychological distress ( B = -0.06 [0.53]; P = .905) or general symptom severity ( B = 0.06 [0.08]; P = .427) and did not explain the relationship between concussion history and symptom outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Concussion history is associated with subtle elevations in symptom severity in collegiate-aged athletes; this relationship is independent of medical, lifestyle (ie, sleep), and personality factors. Furthermore, this relationship is associated with brain injury (ie, concussion) and is not a general response to injury history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology (Drs Brett and Nelson) and Neurosurgery, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy (Dr Meier), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
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13
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Sex differences in acute and long-term brain recovery after concussion. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:5814-5826. [PMID: 34643005 PMCID: PMC8596946 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Concussion is associated with acute disturbances in brain function and behavior, with potential long‐term effects on brain health. However, it is presently unclear whether there are sex differences in acute and long‐term brain recovery. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to scan 61 participants with sport‐related concussion (30 male, 31 female) longitudinally at acute injury, medical clearance to return to play (RTP), and 1‐year post‐RTP. A large cohort of 167 controls (80 male, 87 female) was also imaged. Each MRI session assessed cerebral blood flow (CBF), along with white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). For concussed athletes, the parameters were converted to difference scores relative to matched control subgroups, and partial least squares modeled the main and sex‐specific effects of concussion. Although male and female athletes did not differ in acute symptoms or time to RTP , all MRI measures showed significant sex differences during recovery. Males had greater reductions in occipital‐parietal CBF (mean difference and 95%CI: 9.97 ml/100 g/min, [4.84, 15.12] ml/100 g/min, z = 3.73) and increases in callosal MD (9.07 × 10−5, [−14.14, −3.60] × 10−5, z = −3.46), with greatest effects at 1‐year post‐RTP. In contrast, females had greater reductions in FA of the corona radiata (16.50 × 10−3, [−22.38, −11.08] × 10−3, z = −5.60), with greatest effects at RTP. These findings provide new insights into how the brain recovers after a concussion, showing sex differences in both the acute and chronic phases of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Patients with Concussion in Clinical Emergency. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2021; 2021:7749540. [PMID: 34899970 PMCID: PMC8654544 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7749540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Concussion syndrome is a common disease in neurosurgery, and its incidence ranks first among all traumatic brain injuries. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common functional impairments in concussion syndrome. Neuroimaging and content assessments on concussion patients and healthy control subjects are used in this study, which uses MRI technology to evaluate brain pictures of concussion patients. Moreover, this paper separately evaluates the scores of the concussion syndrome group and the healthy control group in multiple functional aspects and performs independent sample t-test after statistics of the two scores. In addition, this paper uses resting-state fMRI to study the changes in the functional connectivity of the medial prefrontal lobe in patients with PCS, which has certain significance in revealing cognitive dysfunction after concussion and has a certain effect on improving the clinical emergency diagnosis and treatment of concussion.
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15
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de Souza NL, Buckman JF, Dennis EL, Parrott JS, Velez C, Wilde EA, Tate DF, Esopenko C. Association between white matter organization and cognitive performance in athletes with a history of sport-related concussion. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2021; 43:704-715. [PMID: 34779351 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2021.1991893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Impairments in cognitive performance after sport-related concussion (SRC) typically resolve within weeks of the injury, whereas alterations to white matter (WM) organization have been found to persist longer into the chronic injury stage. However, longer-term associations between cognition and WM organization following SRC have not been studied. The objective of this study was to compare WM organization and cognitive performance in collegiate athletes an average of almost 4 years post-SRC to athletes with no history of SRC. METHOD National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III athletes (n = 71, age = 19.3 ± 1.2; 14 with self-reported SRC) completed a neurocognitive assessment and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). WM organization was assessed by extracting measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) from 20 WM regions of interest (ROIs). Multivariate partial least squares analyses were used to compare athletes with and without a history of SRC and assess relationships between DTI-derived metrics of WM organization and cognitive measures. RESULTS Cognitive performance and ROI metrics did not differ between athletes with and without prior SRC. However, among athletes with a history of SRC, better executive function, processing speed, and memory but worse choice reaction time were associated with higher FA and lower MD and RD in several WM tracts. CONCLUSION Athletes with a history of SRC demonstrated greater associations between cognitive performance and WM organization, but also variability in the domains showing associations. Taken together, the findings demonstrate the importance of examining brain-behavior relationships several years after SRC to better gauge how WM organization supports cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola L de Souza
- School of Graduate Studies, Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jennifer F Buckman
- Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Emily L Dennis
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Carmen Velez
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - David F Tate
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Missouri Institute of Mental Health, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carrie Esopenko
- Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Sciences, School of Health Professions, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, USA
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16
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Churchill NW, Di Battista AP, Rhind SG, Richards D, Schweizer TA, Hutchison MG. Cerebral blood flow is associated with matrix metalloproteinase levels during the early symptomatic phase of concussion. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253134. [PMID: 34727098 PMCID: PMC8562781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Concussion is associated with disrupted cerebral blood flow (CBF), although there appears to be substantial inter-individual variability in CBF response. At present, the mechanisms of variable CBF response remain incompletely understood, but one potential contributor is matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression. In more severe forms of acquired brain injury, MMP up-regulation contributes to CBF impairments via increased blood-brain barrier permeability. A similar relationship is hypothesized for concussion, where recently concussed individuals with higher MMP levels have lower CBF. To test this hypothesis, 35 concussed athletes were assessed longitudinally at early symptomatic injury (median: 5 days post-injury) and at medical clearance (median: 24 days post-injury), along with 71 athletic controls. For all athletes, plasma MMPs were measured and arterial spin labelling was used to measure CBF. Consistent with our hypothesis, higher concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-3 were correlated with lower global CBF. The correlations between MMPs and global CBF were also significantly diminished for concussed athletes at medical clearance and for athletic controls. These results indicate an inverse relationship between plasma MMP levels and CBF that is specific to the symptomatic phase of concussion. Analyses of regional CBF further showed that correlations with MMP levels exhibited some spatial specificity, with greatest effects in occipital, parietal and temporal lobes. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of post-concussion cerebrovascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W. Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alex P. Di Battista
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn G. Rhind
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Doug Richards
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom A. Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G. Hutchison
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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17
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Symons GF, Clough M, Mutimer S, Major BP, O'Brien WT, Costello D, McDonald SJ, Chen Z, White O, Mychasiuk R, Law M, Wright DK, O'Brien TJ, Fielding J, Kolbe SC, Shultz SR. Cognitive ocular motor deficits and white matter damage chronically after sports-related concussion. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab213. [PMID: 34595476 PMCID: PMC8477916 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A history of concussion has been linked to long-term cognitive deficits; however, the neural underpinnings of these abnormalities are poorly understood. This study recruited 26 asymptomatic male Australian footballers with a remote history of concussion (i.e. at least six months since last concussion), and 23 non-collision sport athlete controls with no history of concussion. Participants completed three ocular motor tasks (prosaccade, antisaccade and a cognitively complex switch task) to assess processing speed, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, respectively. Diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired using a 3 T MRI scanner, and analysed using tract-based spatial statistics, to investigate white matter abnormalities and how they relate to ocular motor performance. Australian footballers had significantly slower adjusted antisaccade latencies compared to controls (P = 0.035). A significant switch cost (i.e. switch trial error > repeat trial error) was also found on the switch task, with Australian footballers performing increased magnitude of errors on prosaccade switch trials relative to prosaccade repeat trials (P = 0.023). Diffusion tensor imaging analysis found decreased fractional anisotropy, a marker of white matter damage, in major white matter tracts (i.e. corpus callosum, corticospinal tract) in Australian footballers relative to controls. Notably, a larger prosaccade switch cost was significantly related to reduced fractional anisotropy in anterior white matter regions found to connect to the prefrontal cortex (i.e. a key cortical ocular motor centre involved in executive functioning and task switching). Taken together, Australian footballers with a history of concussion have ocular motor deficits indicative of poorer cognitive processing speed and cognitive flexibility, which are related to reduce white matter integrity in regions projecting to important cognitive ocular motor structures. These findings provide novel insights into the neural mechanisms that may underly chronic cognitive impairments in individuals with a history of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia F Symons
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Meaghan Clough
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Steven Mutimer
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Brendan P Major
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - William T O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel Costello
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Stuart J McDonald
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zhibin Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Owen White
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Meng Law
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David K Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Joanne Fielding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Scott C Kolbe
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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18
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Acute and Chronic Effects of Multiple Concussions on Midline Brain Structures. Neurology 2021; 97:e1170-e1181. [PMID: 34433678 PMCID: PMC8480483 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that a history of concussion (HOC) causes greater disturbances in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and white matter microstructure of midline brain structures after subsequent concussions, during the acute and chronic phases of recovery. METHODS In this longitudinal MRI study, 61 athletes with uncomplicated concussion (36 with HOC) were imaged at the acute phase of injury (1-7 days after injury), the subacute phase (8-14 days), medical clearance to return to play (RTP), 1 month after RTP, and 1 year after RTP. A normative group of 167 controls (73 with HOC) were also imaged. Each session assessed CBF of the cingulate cortex, along with fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the corpus callosum. Linear mixed models tested for interactions of HOC with time since injury. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) was also used to evaluate effects of HOC on symptoms, cognition, and balance. RESULTS Athletes with HOC had significantly greater declines in midcingulate CBF subacutely (z = -3.29, p = 0.002) and greater declines in posterior cingulate CBF at 1 year after RTP (z = -2.42, p = 0.007). No significant effects of HOC were seen for FA, whereas athletes with HOC had higher MD of the splenium at RTP (z = 2.54, p = 0.008). These effects were seen in the absence of significant differences in SCAT domains (|z| ≤ 1.14, p ≥ 0.256) or time to RTP (z = 0.23, p = 0.818). DISCUSSION Results indicate subacute and chronic effects of HOC on cingulate CBF and callosal microstructure in the absence of differences in clinical indices. These findings provide new insights into physiologic brain recovery after concussion, with cumulative effects of repeated injury detected among young, healthy athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- From the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- From the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- From the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- From the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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19
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Long-term effects of concussion on relevancy-based modulation of somatosensory-evoked potentials. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2431-2439. [PMID: 34454270 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to better understand the effects of concussions on the ability to selectively up or down-regulate incoming somatosensory information based on relevance. METHODS Median nerve somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were elicited from electrical stimulation and recorded from scalp electrodes while participants completed tasks that altered the relevance of specific somatosensory information being conveyed along the stimulated nerve. RESULTS Within the control group, SEP amplitudes for task-relevant somatosensory information were significantly greater than for non-relevant somatosensory information at the earliest cortical processing potentials (N20-P27). Alternatively, the concussion history group showed similar SEP amplitudes for all conditions at early processing potentials, however a pattern similar to controls emerged later in the processing stream (P100) where both movement-related gating and facilitation of task-relevant information were present. CONCLUSIONS Previously concussed participants demonstrated impairments in the ability to up-regulate relevant somatosensory information at early processing stages. These effects appear to be chronic, as this pattern was observed on average several years after participants' most recent concussion. SIGNIFICANCE Given the role of the prefrontal cortex in relevancy-based facilitation during movement-related gating, these findings lend support to the notion that this brain area may be particularly vulnerable to concussive forces.
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20
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Owens TS, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Iannatelli A, Venables L, Rose G, Fall L, Tsukamoto H, Berg RMG, Jones GL, Marley CJ, Bailey DM. Contact events in rugby union and the link to reduced cognition: evidence for impaired redox-regulation of cerebrovascular function. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:1971-1980. [PMID: 34355451 DOI: 10.1113/ep089330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? How does recurrent contact incurred across a season of professional rugby union impact molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive function? What is the main findings and its importance? A single season of professional rugby union increases systemic oxidative-nitrosative stress (OXNOS) confirmed by a free radical-mediated suppression in nitric oxide bioavailability. Forwards encountered a higher frequency of contact events compared to backs, exhibiting elevated OXNOS and lower cerebrovascular function and cognition. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the possible cause of reduced cognition in rugby union subsequent to impairment in the redox regulation of cerebrovascular function. ABSTRACT Contact events in rugby union remain a public health concern. We determined the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive consequences of contact events during a season of professional rugby. Twenty-one male players aged 25 (mean) ± 4 (SD) years were recruited from a professional rugby team comprising forwards (n = 13) and backs (n = 8). Data were collected across the season. Pre- and post-season, venous blood was assayed for the ascorbate free radical (A•- , electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and nitric oxide (NO, reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence) to quantify oxidative-nitrosative stress (OXNOS). Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, Doppler ultrasound) was measured to assess cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Notational analysis determined contact events over the season. Forwards incurred more collisions (Mean difference [MD ] 7.49; 95% CI, 2.58-12.40; P = 0.005), tackles (MD 3.49; 95% CI, 0.42-6.56; P = 0.028) and jackals (MD 2.21; 95% CI, 0.18-4.24; P = 0.034). Forwards suffered five concussions while backs suffered one concussion. An increase in systemic OXNOS, confirmed by elevated A•- (F2,19 = 10.589, P = 0.004) and corresponding suppression of NO bioavailability (F2,19 = 11.492, P = 0.003) was apparent in forwards and backs across the season. This was accompanied by a reduction in cerebral oxygen delivery ( c D O 2 , F2,19 = 9.440, P = 0.006) and cognition (F2,19 = 4.813, P = 0.041). Forwards exhibited a greater decline in the cerebrovascular reactivity range to changes in PETCO2 ( CV R C O 2 RANG compared to backs (MD 1.378; 95% CI, 0.74-2.02; P < 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Thomas A Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Benjamin S Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Angelo Iannatelli
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Lucy Venables
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - George Rose
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Lewis Fall
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Hayato Tsukamoto
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Ronan M G Berg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gareth L Jones
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Christopher J Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Damian M Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
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21
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Walter AE, Wilkes JR, Arnett PA, Miller SJ, Sebastianelli W, Seidenberg P, Slobounov SM. The accumulation of subconcussive impacts on cognitive, imaging, and biomarker outcomes in child and college-aged athletes: a systematic review. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 16:503-517. [PMID: 34308510 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00489-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Examine the effect of subconcussive impact accumulation on cognitive/functional, imaging, and biomarker outcomes over the course of a single season, specifically in contact sport athletes at collegiate level or younger. Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and using Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence and Newcastle Ottawa Assessment Scale. PubMed MEDLINE, PsycInfo, SPORT-Discus, Web of Science. Original research in English that addressed the influence of subconcussive impacts on outcomes of interest with minimum preseason and postseason measurement in current youth, high school, or college-aged contact sport athletes. 796 articles were initially identified, and 48 articles were included in this review. The studies mostly involved male football athletes in high school or college and demonstrated an underrepresentation of female and youth studies. Additionally, operationalization of previous concussion history and concussion among studies was very inconsistent. Major methodological differences existed across studies, with ImPACT and diffusion tensor imaging being the most commonly used modalities. Biomarker studies generally showed negative effects, cognitive/functional studies mostly revealed no effects, and advanced imaging studies showed generally negative findings over the season; however, there was variability in the findings across all types of studies. This systematic review revealed growing literature on this topic, but inconsistent methodology and operationalization across studies makes it challenging to draw concrete conclusions. Overall, cognitive measures alone do not seem to detect changes across this timeframe while imaging and biomarker measures may be more sensitive to changes following subconcussive impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa E Walter
- Department of Kinesiology, Penn State University, 25 Recreation Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - James R Wilkes
- Department of Kinesiology, Penn State University, 25 Recreation Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Peter A Arnett
- Department of Psychology, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sayers John Miller
- Department of Kinesiology, Penn State University, 25 Recreation Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Wayne Sebastianelli
- Deparetment of Orthopaedics, Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Peter Seidenberg
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and Family and Community Medicine, Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Semyon M Slobounov
- Department of Kinesiology, Penn State University, 25 Recreation Hall, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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22
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Caffey AL, Dalecki M. Evidence of residual cognitive deficits in young adults with a concussion history from adolescence. Brain Res 2021; 1768:147570. [PMID: 34216582 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated executive function and sustained attention of non-athlete, young adults (ages 18-23) with a history of concussion beyond ten months post incident. Cognitive functioning was examined in 24 non-athletic, college students with a concussion history (mean age 21 yrs.; mean time and range post-injury: 4 years, 10-90 months) and 24 non-athletic controls with no history (NH) of concussion. Computerized versions of two cognitive assessment techniques were utilized to examine executive functioning (Stroop) and sustained attention capacity (D2). Primary dependent variables were response time, error score, and sustained attention score. Relationships between dependent variables and concussion metrics were also analyzed. ANOVA's revealed a significantly higher error rate in concussion history (CH) participants when performing the Stroop task (p < 0.05), including a trend for greater errors in the incongruent task condition (p < 0.05). Group measures did not differ in the sustained attention test (all p > 0.05). Nevertheless, there was a significant relationship between D2 error rate and time since concussion (p < 0.01), showing that D2 error rate was greater for participants with more time since concussion sustainment. Our findings indicate the potential for prolonged cognitive dysfunction linked to decision-making, but not to processing speed, in young adult non-athletes with a CH averaging four years post-injury. These findings may provide evidence of residual cognitive deficits in young adults with a concussion history over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L Caffey
- School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA
| | - Marc Dalecki
- School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
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23
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Baker TL, Agoston DV, Brady RD, Major B, McDonald SJ, Mychasiuk R, Wright DK, Yamakawa GR, Sun M, Shultz SR. Targeting the Cerebrovascular System: Next-Generation Biomarkers and Treatment for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Neuroscientist 2021; 28:594-612. [PMID: 33966527 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211012264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs), such as concussions, are significant unmet medical issues. The kinetic forces that occur in mTBI adversely affect the cerebral vasculature, making cerebrovascular injury (CVI) a pathophysiological hallmark of mTBI. Given the importance of a healthy cerebrovascular system in overall brain function, CVI is likely to contribute to neurological dysfunction after mTBI. As such, CVI and related pathomechanisms may provide objective biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve the clinical management and outcomes of mTBI. Despite this potential, until recently, few studies have focused on the cerebral vasculature in this context. This article will begin by providing a brief overview of the cerebrovascular system followed by a review of the literature regarding how mTBI can affect the integrity and function of the cerebrovascular system, and how this may ultimately contribute to neurological dysfunction and neurodegenerative conditions. We then discuss promising avenues of research related to mTBI biomarkers and interventions that target CVI, and conclude that a clinical approach that takes CVI into account could result in substantial improvements in the care and outcomes of patients with mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara L Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Denes V Agoston
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rhys D Brady
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan Major
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stuart J McDonald
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David K Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Glenn R Yamakawa
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mujun Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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24
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Tayebi M, Holdsworth SJ, Champagne AA, Cook DJ, Nielsen P, Lee TR, Wang A, Fernandez J, Shim V. The role of diffusion tensor imaging in characterizing injury patterns on athletes with concussion and subconcussive injury: a systematic review. Brain Inj 2021; 35:621-644. [PMID: 33843389 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2021.1895313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem. The majority of TBIs are in the form of mild TBI (also known as concussion) with sports-related concussion (SRC) receiving public attention in recent years.Here we have performed a systematic review of the literature on the use of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) on sports-related concussion and subconcussive injuries. Our review found different patterns of change in DTI parameters between concussed and subconcussed groups. The Fractional Anisotropy (FA) was either unchanged or increased for the concussion group, while the subconcussed group generally experienced a decrease in FA. A reverse pattern was observed for Mean Diffusivity (MD) - where the concussed group experienced a decrease in MD while the subconcussed group showed an increase in MD. However, in general, discrepancies were observed in the results reported in the literature - likely due to the huge variations in DTI acquisition parameters, and image processing and analysis methods used in these studies. This calls for more comprehensive and well-controlled studies in this field, including those that combine the advanced brain imaging with biomechancial modeling and kinematic sensors - to shed light on the underlying mechanisms behind the structural changes observed from the imaging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Tayebi
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Samantha J Holdsworth
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging & Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Mātai Medical Research Insitute, Gisborne, New Zealand
| | - Allen A Champagne
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Douglas J Cook
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Poul Nielsen
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tae-Rin Lee
- Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Alan Wang
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging & Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Justin Fernandez
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Vickie Shim
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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25
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Disturbances in Brain Physiology Due to Season Play: A Multi-Sport Study of Male and Female University Athletes. Front Physiol 2021; 12:653603. [PMID: 33868020 PMCID: PMC8044759 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.653603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High-performance university athletes experience frequent exertion, resulting in disrupted biological homeostasis, but it is unclear to what extent brain physiology is affected. We examined whether athletes without overtraining symptoms show signs of increased neurophysiological stress over the course of a single athletic season, and whether the effects are modified by demographic factors of age, sex and concussion history, and sport-related factors of contact exposure and season length. Fifty-three university-level athletes were recruited from multiple sports at a single institution and followed longitudinally from beginning of season (BOS) to end of season (EOS) and 1 month afterwards, with a subset followed up at the subsequent beginning of season. MRI was used to comprehensively assess white matter (WM) diffusivity, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and brain activity, while overtraining symptoms were assessed with Hooper’s Index (HI). Although athletes did not report increased HI scores, they showed significantly increased white matter diffusivity and decreased CBF at EOS and 1 month afterwards, with recovery at follow-up. Global brain activity was not significantly altered though, highlighting the ability of the brain to adapt to exercise-related stressors. Male athletes had greater white matter diffusivity at EOS, but female athletes had greater declines in CBF at 1 month afterwards. Post-season changes in MRI measures were not related to change in HI score, age, concussion history, contact exposure, or length of athletic season. Hence, the brain shows substantial but reversible neurophysiological changes due to season play in the absence of overtraining symptoms, with effects that are sex-dependent but otherwise insensitive to demographic variations. These findings provide new insights into the effects of training and competitive play on brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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26
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Eagle SR, Kontos AP, Collins MW, Connaboy C, Flanagan SD. Network Analysis of Sport-Related Concussion Research During the Past Decade (2010-2019). J Athl Train 2021; 56:454353. [PMID: 33543307 PMCID: PMC8063657 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0280.20] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Research into sport-related concussion (SRC) has grown substantially over the past decade, yet no authors to date have synthesized developments over this critical time period. OBJECTIVE To apply a network-analysis approach in evaluating trends in the SRC literature using a comprehensive search of original, peer-reviewed research articles involving human participants published between January 1, 2010, and December 15, 2019. DESIGN Narrative review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Bibliometric maps were derived from a comprehensive search of all published, peer-reviewed SRC articles in the Web of Science database. A clustering algorithm was used to evaluate associations among journals, organizations or institutions, authors, and key words. The online search yielded 6130 articles, 528 journals, 7598 authors, 1966 organizations, and 3293 key words. RESULTS The analysis supported 5 thematic clusters of journals: (1) biomechanics/sports medicine (n = 15), (2) pediatrics/rehabilitation (n = 15), (3) neurotrauma/neurology/neurosurgery (n = 11), (4) general sports medicine (n = 11), and (5) neuropsychology (n = 7). The analysis identified 4 organizational clusters of hub institutions: (1) University of North Carolina (n = 19), (2) University of Toronto (n = 19), (3) University of Michigan (n = 11), and (4) University of Pittsburgh (n = 10). Network analysis revealed 8 clusters for SRC key words, each with a central topic area: (1) epidemiology (n = 14), (2) rehabilitation (n = 12), (3) biomechanics (n = 11), (4) imaging (n = 10), (5) assessment (n = 9), (6) mental health/chronic traumatic encephalopathy (n = 9), (7) neurocognition (n = 8), and (8) symptoms/impairments (n = 5). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that during the past decade SRC research has (1) been published primarily in sports medicine, pediatric, and neuro-focused journals, (2) involved a select group of researchers from several key institutions, and (3) concentrated on new topical areas, including treatment or rehabilitation and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn R. Eagle
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | - Chris Connaboy
- Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, PA
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27
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Wittrup EM, Fox LA, Breedlove KM, Memmini AK, Broglio SP. Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Re-Injury Occurrence in Previously Concussed National Football League Athletes. Open Access J Sports Med 2020; 11:169-176. [PMID: 33364861 PMCID: PMC7751585 DOI: 10.2147/oajsm.s280841] [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] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Increased risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury post-concussion has been reported in collegiate athletes, yet it is unknown if professional football athletes are at the same risk of secondary injury. The objective of this study was to determine if the risk of MSK injury in National Football League (NFL) athletes increases after concussion. Methods NFL injury reports from 2013 to 2017 were collected from public websites. Concussed athletes (n=91) were equally matched to a non-injured control and an athlete with an incident of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Results Following their return to sport, concussed athletes were 2.35 times more likely to have a subsequent MSK injury relative to non-injured controls (95% CI: 2.35 [1.25, 4.44], P = 0.01), but were no more likely than athletes with an incident MSK injury (P = 0.55). Likewise, athletes with an incident MSK injury were no more likely to have a subsequent MSK injury than controls (P = 0.08). Discussion Increased odds of MSK injury in the 12-week period following a concussion in professional football athletes warrants future research on the acute effects of concussion and the relationship to MSK injury risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Wittrup
- Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lucas A Fox
- Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katherine M Breedlove
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Abstract
This article focuses on 3 concepts that continue to be investigated in the search for the holy grail of concussion-a valid diagnostic test. Imaging advances are discussed with optimism that functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging may be available clinically. Biomarkers and the use of genetic tests are covered. Sideline accelerometer use may help steer discussions of head trauma risk once technology exists to accurately estimate acceleration of the brain. In the meantime, strategies including allowing athletes to be substituted out of games for an evaluation and video review in elite sports can improve recognition of sports-related concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamish Kerr
- Sports Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albany Medical College, 1019 New Loudon Road, Cohoes, NY 12047, USA.
| | - Bjørn Bakken
- Department of Medicine, Albany Medical Center, 1019 New Loudon Road, Cohoes, NY 12047, USA
| | - Gregory House
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Albany Medical Center, 391 Myrtle Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA
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29
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Morris A, Cassidy B, Pelo R, Fino NF, Presson AP, Cushman DM, Monson NE, Dibble LE, Fino PC. Reactive Postural Responses After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Association With Musculoskeletal Injury Risk in Collegiate Athletes: A Study Protocol. Front Sports Act Living 2020; 2:574848. [PMID: 33345138 PMCID: PMC7739642 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2020.574848] [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] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Deficits in neuromuscular control are widely reported after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These deficits are speculated to contribute to the increased rate of musculoskeletal injuries after mTBI. However, a concrete mechanistic connection between post-mTBI deficits and musculoskeletal injuries has yet to be established. While impairments in some domains of balance control have been linked to musculoskeletal injuries, reactive balance control has received little attention in the mTBI literature, despite the inherent demand of balance recovery in athletics. Our central hypothesis is that the high rate of musculoskeletal injuries after mTBI is in part due to impaired reactive balance control necessary for balance recovery. The purpose of this study is to (1) characterize reactive postural responses to recover balance in athletes with recent mTBI compared to healthy control subjects, (2) determine the extent to which reactive postural responses remain impaired in athletes with recent mTBI who have been cleared to return to play, and (3) determine the relationship between reactive postural responses and acute lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries in a general sample of healthy collegiate athletes. Methods: This two-phase study will take place at the University of Utah in coordination with the University of Utah Athletics Department. Phase 1 will evaluate student-athletes who have sustained mTBI and teammate-matched controls who meet all the inclusion criteria. The participants will be assessed at multiple time points along the return-to-play progress of the athlete with mTBI. The primary outcome will be measures of reactive postural response derived from wearable sensors during the Push and Release (P&R) test. In phase 2, student-athletes will undergo a baseline assessment of postural responses. Acute lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries for each participant will be prospectively tracked for 1 year from the date of first team activity. The primary outcomes will be the measures of reactive postural responses and the time from first team activity to lower extremity injury. Discussion: Results from this study will further our understanding of changes in balance control, across all domains, after mTBI and identify the extent to which postural responses can be used to assess injury risk in collegiate athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Morris
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Benjamin Cassidy
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Ryan Pelo
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Nora F Fino
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Angela P Presson
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Daniel M Cushman
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Nicholas E Monson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Operations, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Leland E Dibble
- Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Peter C Fino
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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30
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Cassoudesalle H, Petit A, Chanraud S, Petit H, Badaut J, Sibon I, Dehail P. Changes in resting-state functional brain connectivity associated with head impacts over one men's semi-professional soccer season. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:446-454. [PMID: 33089563 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Soccer, as a contact sport, exposes players to repetitive head impacts, especially through heading the ball. The question of a long-term brain cumulative effect remains. Our objective was to determine whether exposure to head impacts over one soccer season was associated with changes in functional brain connectivity at rest, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this prospective cohort study, 10 semi-professional men soccer players, aged 18-25 years, and 20 age-matched men athletes without a concussion history and who do not practice any contact sport were recruited in Bordeaux (France). Exposure to head impacts per soccer player during competitive games over one season was measured using video analysis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired for both groups at two times, before and after the season. With a seed-based analysis, resting-state networks that have been intimately associated with aspects of cognitive functioning were investigated. The results showed a mean head impacts of 42 (±33) per soccer player over the season, mainly intentional head-to-ball impacts and no concussion. No head impact was found among the other athletes. The number of head impacts between the two MRI acquisitions before and after the season was associated with increased connectivity within the default mode network and the cortico-cerebellar network. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the brain functioning changes over one soccer season in association with exposure to repetitive head impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Cassoudesalle
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,"Handicap, Activity, Cognition & Health" Team, INSERM, BPH, U1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Adrien Petit
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sandra Chanraud
- Neuroimaging and Human Cognition Group, UMR-CNRS 5287 - INCIA, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hervé Petit
- "Handicap, Activity, Cognition & Health" Team, INSERM, BPH, U1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jérôme Badaut
- Brain Molecular Imaging Group, UMR-CNRS 5287 - INCIA, Bordeaux, France
| | - Igor Sibon
- Neuroimaging and Human Cognition Group, UMR-CNRS 5287 - INCIA, Bordeaux, France
| | - Patrick Dehail
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,"Handicap, Activity, Cognition & Health" Team, INSERM, BPH, U1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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31
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Wright MJ, Monti MM, Lutkenhoff ES, Hardy DJ, Litvin PY, Kelly DF, Guskiewicz K, Cantu RC, Vespa PM, Hovda DA, Lopez WD, Wang C, Swerdloff R, Fuster JM. Memory in repeat sports-related concussive injury and single-impact traumatic brain injury. Brain Inj 2020; 34:1666-1673. [PMID: 32990043 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1825806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background: Repeat sports-related concussive/subconcussive injury (RC/SCI) is related to memory impairment. Objective & Methods: We sought to determine memory differences between persons with RC/SCI, moderate-to-severe single-impact traumatic brain injury (SI-TBI), and healthy controls. MRI scans from a subsample of participants with SI-TBI were used to identify the neuroanatomical correlates of observed memory process differences between the brain injury groups. Results: Both brain injury groups evidenced worse learning and recall in contrast to controls, although SI-TBI group had poorer memory than the RC/SCI group. Regarding memory process differences, in contrast to controls, the SI-TBI group evidenced difficulties with encoding, consolidation, and retrieval, while the RC/SCI group showed deficits in consolidation and retrieval. Delayed recall was predicted by encoding, with consolidation as a secondary predictor in the SI-TBI group. In the RC/SCI group, delayed recall was only predicted by consolidation. MRI data showed that the consolidation index we used mapped onto hippocampal atrophy. Conclusions: RC/SCI is primarily associated with consolidation deficits, which differs from SI-TBI. Given the role of the hippocampus in memory consolidation and the fact that hyperphosphorylated tau tends to accumulate in the medial temporal lobe in RC/SCI, consolidation deficits may be a cognitive marker of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Wright
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , Torrance, California, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Martin M Monti
- Department of Psychology, UCLA , Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Evan S Lutkenhoff
- Department of Psychology, UCLA , Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David J Hardy
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pavel Y Litvin
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , Torrance, California, USA
| | - Daniel F Kelly
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center & Pituitary Disorders Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center , Santa Monica, California, USA
| | - Kevin Guskiewicz
- Department of Exercise & Sports Science, Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at the University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paul M Vespa
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David A Hovda
- Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Walter D Lopez
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , Torrance, California, USA
| | - Christina Wang
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , Torrance, California, USA
| | - Ronald Swerdloff
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center , Torrance, California, USA
| | - Joaquín M Fuster
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine , Los Angeles, California, USA
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32
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Validating Tackle Mechanics in American Football: Improving Safety and Performance. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 48:2691-2700. [PMID: 33000449 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02625-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Research has helped to understand the risks of injuries of tackling in American football and rugby; however, approaches to teaching and analysis are not well-documented. Shoulder-led tackling has been proposed as a safer approach to tackling even though data on the effectiveness for safety and defensive performance is limited. Additionally, some have argued that safety and effectiveness are incompatible. The purpose of the study was to validate a specific sequence of tackling actions as a tool for teaching safer and more effective tackling skills. Results suggested tackle scores help predict presence of head contact, and that higher tackle scores were associated with reductions in Yards After Contact (YAC). Eight hundred and thirty-two (832) American high school football tackles were rated using a 12-element rating system. Estimated Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) was employed to identify the factor structure of the elements with three factors identified: Track, Engage, and Finish. ANOVA, along with logistic and linear equation models were run to determine relationships between tackle scores and outcomes. Tackle scores predicted head-contact category (binary logistic regression accuracy = .76). Yards after contact (YAC) were significantly reduced [Finish factor: MANOVA F(3, 828) = 105.825, p < .001]. Construct and predictive validity were demonstrated and show that these tackle elements provide valid foci for teaching better tackling as well as analyzing both teaching effectiveness and performance.
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33
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Bobholz SA, Brett BL, España LY, Huber DL, Mayer AR, Harezlak J, Broglio SP, McAllister T, McCrea MA, Meier TB. Prospective study of the association between sport-related concussion and brain morphometry (3T-MRI) in collegiate athletes: study from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Br J Sports Med 2020; 55:169-174. [PMID: 32917671 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the acute and early long-term associations of sport-related concussion (SRC) and subcortical and cortical structures in collegiate contact sport athletes. METHODS Athletes with a recent SRC (n=99) and matched contact (n=91) and non-contact sport controls (n=95) completed up to four neuroimaging sessions from 24 to 48 hours to 6 months postinjury. Subcortical volumes (amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and dorsal striatum) and vertex-wise measurements of cortical thickness/volume were computed using FreeSurfer. Linear mixed-effects models examined the acute and longitudinal associations between concussion and structural metrics, controlling for intracranial volume (or mean thickness) and demographic variables (including prior concussions and sport exposure). RESULTS There were significant group-dependent changes in amygdala volumes across visits (p=0.041); this effect was driven by a trend for increased amygdala volume at 6 months relative to subacute visits in contact controls, with no differences in athletes with SRC. No differences were observed in any cortical metric (ie, thickness or volume) for primary or secondary analyses. CONCLUSION A single SRC had minimal associations with grey matter structure across a 6-month time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Bobholz
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Benjamin L Brett
- Neurosurgery and Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lezlie Y España
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel L Huber
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- Neurology and Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.,Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Harezlak
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Steven P Broglio
- Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Thomas McAllister
- Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Neurosurgery and Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA .,Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.,Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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34
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Brett BL, Bobholz SA, España LY, Huber DL, Mayer AR, Harezlak J, Broglio SP, McAllister TW, McCrea MA, Meier TB. Cumulative Effects of Prior Concussion and Primary Sport Participation on Brain Morphometry in Collegiate Athletes: A Study From the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium. Front Neurol 2020; 11:673. [PMID: 32849177 PMCID: PMC7399344 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior studies have reported long-term differences in brain structure (brain morphometry) as being associated with cumulative concussion and contact sport participation. There is emerging evidence to suggest that similar effects of prior concussion and contact sport participation on brain morphometry may be present in younger cohorts of active athletes. We investigated the relationship between prior concussion and primary sport participation with subcortical and cortical structures in active collegiate contact sport and non-contact sport athletes. Contact sport athletes (CS; N = 190) and matched non-contact sport athletes (NCS; N = 95) completed baseline clinical testing and participated in up to four serial neuroimaging sessions across a 6-months period. Subcortical and cortical structural metrics were derived using FreeSurfer. Linear mixed-effects (LME) models examined the effects of years of primary sport participation and prior concussion (0, 1+) on brain structure and baseline clinical variables. Athletes with prior concussion across both groups reported significantly more baseline concussion and psychological symptoms (all ps < 0.05). The relationship between years of primary sport participation and thalamic volume differed between CS and NCS (p = 0.015), driven by a significant inverse association between primary years of participation and thalamic volume in CS (p = 0.007). Additional analyses limited to CS alone showed that the relationship between years of primary sport participation and dorsal striatal volume was moderated by concussion history (p = 0.042). Finally, CS with prior concussion had larger hippocampal volumes than CS without prior concussion (p = 0.015). Years of contact sport exposure and prior concussion(s) are associated with differences in subcortical volumes in young-adult, active collegiate athletes, consistent with prior literature in retired, primarily symptomatic contact sport athletes. Longitudinal follow-up studies in these athletes are needed to determine clinical significance of current findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Samuel A Bobholz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Lezlie Y España
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Daniel L Huber
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Neurology and Psychiatry Departments, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jaroslaw Harezlak
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Steven P Broglio
- School of Kinesiology and Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Thomas W McAllister
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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35
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June D, Williams OA, Huang CW, An Y, Landman BA, Davatzikos C, Bilgel M, Resnick SM, Beason-Held LL. Lasting consequences of concussion on the aging brain: Findings from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Neuroimage 2020; 221:117182. [PMID: 32702483 PMCID: PMC7848820 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies suggest that concussions may be related to increased risk of
neurodegenerative diseases, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and
Alzheimer’s Disease. Most neuroimaging studies show effects of
concussionsin frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, yet the long-term impacts
of concussions on the aging brain have not been well studied. We examined
neuroimaging data from 51 participants (mean age at first imaging visit =
65.1±11.23) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) who
reported a concussion in their medical history an average of 23 years prior to
the first imaging visit, and compared them to 150 participants (mean age at
first imaging visit = 66.6 ± 10.97) with no history of concussion.
Participants underwent serial structural MRI overa mean of 5.17 ± 6.14
years and DTI over a mean of 2.92 ± 2.22 years to measure brain
structure, as well as 15O-water PET over a mean of 5.33 ± 2.19
years to measure brain function. A battery of neuropsychological tests was also
administered over a mean of 11.62 ± 7.41 years. Analyses of frontal and
temporal lobe regions were performed to examine differences in these measures
between the concussion and control groups at first imaging visit and in change
over time. Compared to those without concussion, participants with a prior
concussion had greater brain atrophy in temporal lobe white matter and
hippocampus at first imaging visit, which remained stable throughout the
follow-up visits. Those with prior concussion also showed differences in white
matter microstructure using DTI, including increased radial and axial
diffusivity in the fornix/stria terminalis, anterior corona radiata, and
superior longitudinal fasciculus at first imaging visit. In 15O-water
PET, higher resting cerebral blood flow was seen at first imaging visit in
orbitofrontal and lateral temporal regions, and both increases and decreases
were seen in prefrontal, cingulate, insular, hippocampal, and ventral temporal
regions with longitudinal follow-up. There were no significant differences in
neuropsychological performance between groups. Most of the differences observed
between the concussed and non-concussed groups were seen at the first imaging
visit, suggesting that concussions can produce long-lasting structural and
functional alterations in temporal and frontal regions of the brain in older
individuals. These results also suggest that many of the reported short-term
effects of concussion may still be apparent later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle June
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Owen A Williams
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Chiung-Wei Huang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Yang An
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Bennett A Landman
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Christos Davatzikos
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Murat Bilgel
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA
| | - Lori L Beason-Held
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, 251 Bayview Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21224-6825, USA.
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36
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Li W, Chang C, Liang S, Bigler ED. Radiographic and neurobehavioral profile of sports-related concussion associated with scholastic wrestling: a case report. Neurocase 2020; 26:147-155. [PMID: 32412324 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2020.1764977] [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] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Sports-related concussions (SRCs) are typically characterized by transient neurologic deficits due to physiologic and metabolic brain injury. However, following an SRC, subsequent insults may lead to severe and permanent injury in the affected brain cells. We present the case of a 15-year-old female scholastic wrestler who developed acute encephalopathy, macroscopic white matter injury on imaging, and chronic behavioral changes from inadequate neuro-recovery after a documented SRC. We also compare her case with established SRC data, demonstrating that wrestling-related concussions and repetitive head impacts can produce similar degrees of diffuse neuroinflammation, myelinated axonopathy, blood-brain barrier disruption, and post-concussive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Li
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis , Sacramento, USA
| | - Celia Chang
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of California Davis , Sacramento, USA
| | - Shannon Liang
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of California Davis , Sacramento, USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis , Sacramento, USA.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Research Facility, Brigham Young University , Provo, USA.,Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, USA
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37
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Hamer J, Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Sex Differences in Cerebral Blood Flow Associated with a History of Concussion. J Neurotrauma 2020; 37:1197-1203. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Hamer
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nathan W. Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael G. Hutchison
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon J. Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tom A. Schweizer
- Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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38
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Roby PR, Chandran A, Barczak-Scarboro NE, DeLellis SM, Ford CB, Healy ML, Means GE, Kane SF, Lynch JH, Mihalik JP. Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Special Operations Forces Combat Soldiers. Ann Biomed Eng 2020; 48:1651-1660. [DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02514-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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39
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Baseline vs. cross-sectional MRI of concussion: distinct brain patterns in white matter and cerebral blood flow. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1643. [PMID: 32015365 PMCID: PMC6997378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58073-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging has been used to describe the pathophysiology of sport-related concussion during early injury, with effects that may persist beyond medical clearance to return-to-play (RTP). However, studies are typically cross-sectional, comparing groups of concussed and uninjured athletes. It is important to determine whether these findings are consistent with longitudinal change at the individual level, relative to their own pre-injury baseline. A cohort of N = 123 university-level athletes were scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of this group, N = 12 acquired a concussion and were re-scanned at early symptomatic injury and at RTP. A sub-group of N = 44 uninjured athletes were also re-imaged, providing a normative reference group. Among concussed athletes, abnormalities were identified for white matter fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity, along with grey matter cerebral blood flow, using both cross-sectional (CS) and longitudinal (LNG) approaches. The spatial patterns of abnormality for CS and LNG were distinct, with median fractional overlap below 0.10 and significant differences in the percentage of abnormal voxels. However, the analysis methods did not differ in the amount of change from symptomatic injury to RTP and in the direction of observed abnormalities. These results highlight the impact of using pre-injury baseline data when evaluating concussion-related brain abnormalities at the individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada. .,Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada.
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada.,Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, M5S 2C9, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- Neuroscience Research Program, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada.,Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto ON, M5B 1M8, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto, Toronto ON, M5T 1P5, Canada
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40
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Churchill NW, Hutchison MG, Graham SJ, Schweizer TA. Mapping brain recovery after concussion: From acute injury to 1 year after medical clearance. Neurology 2019; 93:e1980-e1992. [PMID: 31619480 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000008523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that concussion-related brain alterations seen at symptomatic injury and medical clearance to return to play (RTP) will have dissipated by 1 year after RTP. METHODS For this observational study, 24 athletes with concussion were scanned longitudinally within 1 week after injury, at RTP, and 1 year after RTP. A large control cohort of 122 athletes were also scanned before the season. Each imaging session assessed global functional connectivity (Gconn) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), along with white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). The main effects of concussion on MRI parameters were evaluated at each postinjury time point. In addition, covariation was assessed between MRI parameters and clinical measures of acute symptom severity and time to RTP. RESULTS Different aspects of brain physiology showed different patterns of recovery over time. Both Gconn and FA displayed no significant effects at 1 year after RTP, whereas CBF and MD exhibited persistent long-term effects. The effects of concussion on MRI parameters were also dependent on acute symptom severity and time to RTP for all postinjury time points. CONCLUSION This study provides the first longitudinal evaluation of concussion focused on time of RTP and 1 year after medical clearance, using multiple different MRI measures to assess brain structure and function. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the natural course of brain recovery after a concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Churchill
- From the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Hutchison
- From the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J Graham
- From the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tom A Schweizer
- From the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (N.W.C., M.G.H., T.A.S.) and Neuroscience Research Program (N.W.C., T.A.S.), St. Michael's Hospital; Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (M.G.H.), Department of Medical Biophysics (S.J.G.), Faculty of Medicine (Neurosurgery) (T.A.S.), and Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (T.A.S.), University of Toronto; and Physical Sciences Platform (S.J.G.), Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Subcortical shape and neuropsychological function among U.S. service members with mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 13:377-388. [PMID: 29564659 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9854-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In a recent manuscript, our group demonstrated shape differences in the thalamus, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala in a cohort of U.S. Service Members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Given the significant role these structures play in cognitive function, this study directly examined the relationship between shape metrics and neuropsychological performance. The imaging and neuropsychological data from 135 post-deployed United States Service Members from two groups (mTBI and orthopedic injured) were examined. Two shape features modeling local deformations in thickness (RD) and surface area (JD) were defined vertex-wise on parametric mesh-representations of 7 bilateral subcortical gray matter structures. Linear regression was used to model associations between subcortical morphometry and neuropsychological performance as a function of either TBI status or, among TBI patients, subjective reporting of initial concussion severity (CS). Results demonstrated several significant group-by-cognition relationships with shape metrics across multiple cognitive domains including processing speed, memory, and executive function. Higher processing speed was robustly associated with more dilation of caudate surface area among patients with mTBI who reported more than one CS variables (loss of consciousness (LOC), alteration of consciousness (AOC), and/or post-traumatic amnesia (PTA)). These significant patterns indicate the importance of subcortical structures in cognitive performance and support a growing functional neuroanatomical literature in TBI and other neurologic disorders. However, prospective research will be required before exact directional evolution and progression of shape can be understood and utilized in predicting or tracking cognitive outcomes in this patient population.
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Champagne AA, Coverdale NS, Germuska M, Cook DJ. Multi-parametric analysis reveals metabolic and vascular effects driving differences in BOLD-based cerebrovascular reactivity associated with a history of sport concussion. Brain Inj 2019; 33:1479-1489. [PMID: 31354054 PMCID: PMC7115911 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2019.1644375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Identify alterations in cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) based on the history of sport-related concussion (SRC). Further explore possible mechanisms underlying differences in vascular physiology using hemodynamic parameters modeled using calibrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Method: End-tidal targeting and dual-echo MRI were combined to probe hypercapnic and hyperoxic challenges in athletes with (n = 32) and without (n = 31) a history of SRC. Concurrent blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) data were used to compute BOLD-CVR, ASL-CVR, and other physiological parameters including resting oxygen extraction fraction (OEF0) and cerebral blood volume (CBV0). Multiple linear and logistic regressions were then used to identify dominant parameters driving group-differences in BOLD-CVR. Results: Robust evidence for elevated BOLD-CVR were found in athletes with SRC history spreading over parts of the cortical hemispheres. Follow-up analyses showed co-localized differences in ASL-CVR (representing modulation of cerebral blood flow) and hemodynamic factors representing static vascular (i.e., CBV0) and metabolic (i.e., OEF0) effects suggesting that group-based differences in BOLD-CVR may be driven by a mixed effect from factors with vascular and metabolic origins. Conclusion: These results emphasize that while BOLD-CVR offers promises as a surrogate non-specific biomarker for cerebrovascular health following SRC, multiple hemodynamic parameters can affect its relative measurements. Abbreviations: [dHb]: concentration of deoxyhemoglobin; AFNI: Analysis of Functional NeuroImages ( https://afni.nimh.nih.gov ); ASL: arterial spin labeling; BIG: position group: defensive and offensive linemen; BIG-SKILL: position group: full backs, linebackers, running backs, tight-ends; BOLD: blood oxygen level dependent; CBF: cerebral blood flow; CMRO2: cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption; CTL: group of control subjects; CVR: cerebrovascular reactivity; fMRI: functional magnetic resonance imaging; FSL: FMRIB software library ( https://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/ ); HC: hypercapnia; HO: hyperoxia; HX: group with history of concussion; M: maximal theoretical BOLD signal upon complete removal of venous dHb; pCASL: pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling; PETCO2: end-tidal carbon dioxide; PETO2: end-tidal oxygen; SCAT: sport-concussion assessment tool; SKILL: position group: defensive backs, kickers, quarterbacks, safeties, wide-receivers; SRC: sport-related concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen A. Champagne
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Michael Germuska
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Center, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas J. Cook
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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43
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Dallmeier JD, Meysami S, Merrill DA, Raji CA. Emerging advances of in vivo detection of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury. Br J Radiol 2019; 92:20180925. [PMID: 31287716 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20180925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is of epidemic proportions in contact sports athletes and is linked to subconcussive and concussive repetitive head impacts (RHI). Although postmortem analysis is currently the only confirmatory method to diagnose CTE, there has been progress in early detection techniques of fluid biomarkers as well as in advanced neuroimaging techniques. Specifically, promising new methods of diffusion MRI and radionucleotide PET scans could aid in the early detection of CTE.The authors examine early detection methods focusing on various neuroimaging techniques. Advances in structural and diffusion MRI have demonstrated the ability to measure volumetric and white matter abnormalities associated with CTE. Recent studies using radionucleotides such as flortaucipir and 18F-FDDNP have shown binding patterns that are consistent with the four stages of neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) distribution postmortem. Additional research undertakings focusing on fMRI, MR spectroscopy, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and singlephoton emission CT are also discussed as are advanced MRI methods such as diffusiontensor imaging and arterial spin labeled. Neuroimaging is fast becoming a key instrument in early detection and could prove essential for CTE quantification. This review explores a global approach to in vivo early detection.Limited data of in vivo CTE biomarkers with postmortem confirmation are available. While some data exist, they are limited by selection bias. It is unlikely that a single test will be sufficient to properly diagnosis and distinguish CTE from other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease or Frontotemporal Dementia. However, with a combination of fluid biomarkers, neuroimaging, and genetic testing, early detection may become possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian D Dallmeier
- 1Department of Neuroscience, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Somayeh Meysami
- 2Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David A Merrill
- 3Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Pacific Brain Health Center, UCLA and Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Cyrus A Raji
- 4Radiology, Washington University Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
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Santhanam P, Wilson SH, Mulatya C, Oakes TR, Weaver LK. Age-Accelerated Reduction in Cortical Surface Area in United States Service Members and Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:2922-2929. [PMID: 31094282 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of combat-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and relatively high incidence of concurrent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the joint effect of these conditions on the brain is not well understood. Further, few studies in the mTBI or PTSD populations focus on cortical surface area measures, despite known disruptions to cytoarchitecture of the cortex. This study examines the effects of comorbid mTBI and PTSD on age-related surface area changes across the cortex, as compared with a group with mTBI only. While a direct comparison of PTSD versus non-PTSD groups showed little difference on surface area measures, several regions showed a decline in surface area, with increasing age and a significant PTSD-by-age interaction effect, indicating an age-dependent decrease in surface area in those with both mTBI and PTSD. The findings suggest an apparent age-accelerated shrinking of the cortical surface area in some regions when mTBI and PTSD are present, a pattern that was not consistently found in those with mTBI only. Among the several cortical regions with significant age-by-group interactions were bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (left: p = 0.03; right: p = 0.02), isthmus of the cingulate (left: p = 0.016; right: p = 0.001), and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (left: p = 0.038; right: p = 0.02). It is possible that these findings are related to a larger pattern of premature neurodegeneration and age-acceleration noted in those with long-term PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Santhanam
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | | | | | - Terrence R Oakes
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Lindell K Weaver
- Division of Hyperbaric, Medicine Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, UT and Intermountain LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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45
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Craig DI, Lininger MR, Wayment HA, Huffman AH. Investigation of strategies to improve concussion reporting in American football. Res Sports Med 2019; 28:181-193. [PMID: 30859851 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2019.1586706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
While research on sport-related concussion has increased dramatically over the past decade, research investigating concussion reporting is in its early stages. The purpose of this project was to assess concussion reporting and work with stakeholders to develop and assess strategies to improve reporting. We used a multi-site, repeated measures design with three NCAA Division I football programs, including 223 athlete participants. A modified community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used to develop intervention strategies (Fall 2017 season) with stakeholders designed to increase concussion reporting intentions. Preseason and postseason surveys were administered to determine effectiveness. Main outcome measures included concussion knowledge, intervention effectiveness, and reporting intention measures. For all three programs, concussion knowledge was unrelated to reporting intentions. Two of the three programs implemented the intervention strategies and for these programs there was evidence that the interventions were effective. Specifically, athletes from these two programs perceived more support from coaches about reporting (P< 0.05; t= 2.83), received education more frequently (P< 0.05; t= 2.67), and reported being more likely to report concussion symptoms (P< 0.05; t= 2.14). Our study demonstrates that working with stakeholders to develop site-specific strategies to improve concussion reporting is an effective approach to help improve reporting behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie I Craig
- Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
| | - Monica R Lininger
- Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
| | - Heidi A Wayment
- Psychological Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
| | - Ann H Huffman
- Psychological Sciences, W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University
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Mac Donald CL, Barber J, Wright J, Coppel D, De Lacy N, Ottinger S, Peck S, Panks C, Sun S, Zalewski K, Temkin N. Longitudinal Clinical and Neuroimaging Evaluation of Symptomatic Concussion in 10- to 14-Year-Old Youth Athletes. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:264-274. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.5629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christine L. Mac Donald
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jason Barber
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jason Wright
- Department of Radiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - David Coppel
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nina De Lacy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Steve Ottinger
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Suzanne Peck
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Chris Panks
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Samantha Sun
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kody Zalewski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Nancy Temkin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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47
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Linked MRI signatures of the brain's acute and persistent response to concussion in female varsity rugby players. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 21:101627. [PMID: 30528959 PMCID: PMC6411783 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acute brain changes are expected after concussion, yet there is growing evidence of persistent abnormalities well beyond clinical recovery and clearance to return to play. Multiparametric MRI is a powerful approach to non-invasively study structure-function relationships in the brain, however it remains challenging to interpret the complex and heterogeneous cascade of brain changes that manifest after concussion. Emerging conjunctive, data-driven analysis approaches like linked independent component analysis can integrate structural and functional imaging data to produce linked components that describe the shared inter-subject variance across images. These linked components not only offer the potential of a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying neurobiology of concussion, but can also provide reliable information at the level of an individual athlete. In this study, we analyzed resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) within a cohort of female varsity rugby players (n = 52) through the in- and off-season, including concussed athletes (n = 21) who were studied longitudinally at three days, three months and six months after a diagnosed concussion. Linked components representing co-varying white matter microstructure and functional network connectivity characterized (a) the brain's acute response to concussion and (b) persistent alterations beyond clinical recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these long-term brain changes related to specific aspects of a concussion history and allowed us to monitor individual athletes before and longitudinally after a diagnosed concussion. Diffusion alterations were present acutely post-concussion and during the in-season. Linked variation of brain structure-function persisted 6-months after injury. Multiparametric signatures related to concussion history, even in healthy athletes.
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48
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Damji F, Babul S. Improving and standardizing concussion education and care: a Canadian experience. Concussion 2018; 3:CNC58. [PMID: 30652012 PMCID: PMC6331705 DOI: 10.2217/cnc-2018-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Faraz Damji
- Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Shelina Babul
- Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
- Associate Director, BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
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49
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Quantitative Volumetric Imaging and Clinical Outcome Characterization of Symptomatic Concussion in 10- to 14-Year-Old Adolescent Athletes. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2018; 33:E1-E10. [DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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50
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Brooks BL, Low TA, Plourde V, Virani S, Jadavji Z, MacMaster FP, Barlow KM, Lebel RM, Yeates KO. Cerebral blood flow in children and adolescents several years after concussion. Brain Inj 2018; 33:233-241. [DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2018.1540798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian L. Brooks
- Departments of Paediatrics, Clinical Neurosciences, and Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Neurosciences Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Trevor A. Low
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vickie Plourde
- Faculty Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shane Virani
- Vi Riddell Pain and Rehabilitation Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zeanna Jadavji
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Frank P. MacMaster
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Strategic Clinical Network for Addictions and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Departments of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Karen M. Barlow
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Departments of Paediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Brisbane, Australia
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Brisbane, Australia
| | - R. Marc Lebel
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- GE Healthcare, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keith Owen Yeates
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Departments of Psychology, Paediatrics, and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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