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Jo J, Wong G, Williams KL, Davis PJ, Rigney GH, Zuckerman SL, Terry DP. Age of First Exposure to Contact Sports Is Not Associated With Worse Later-In-Life Brain Health in a Cohort of Community-Dwelling Older Men. Clin J Sport Med 2024:00042752-990000000-00215. [PMID: 38990169 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether early age of first exposure to contact sports (AFE-CS) is associated with worse long-term brain health outcomes. DESIGN A cross-sectional, survey study of older men with a history of contact sport participation was completed. SETTING Tertiary care facility. PARTICIPANTS A cohort of community-dwelling older men dichotomized by using AFE-CS (<12 years vs ≥12 years). INTERVENTIONS Independent variables included a dichotomized group of AFE-CS (<12 years vs ≥12 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Brain health outcomes measured by depression, anxiety, cognitive difficulties, and neurobehavioral symptoms. Endorsements of general health problems, motor symptoms, and psychiatric history were also collected. Age of first exposure groups was compared using t tests, χ2 tests, and multivariable linear regressions, which included the following covariates: age, number of prior concussions, and total years of contact sport. RESULTS Of 69 men aged 70.5 ± 8.0 years, approximately one-third of the sample (34.8%) reported AFE-CS before age 12 years. That group had more years of contact sports (10.8 ± 9.2 years) compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12 (5.6 ± 4.5 years; P = 0.02). No differences were found after univariate testing between AFE-CS groups on all outcomes (P-values >0.05). Multivariable models suggest that AFE-CS is not a predictor of depression or anxiety. Those in the AFE-CS <12 group had fewer cognitive difficulties (P = 0.03) and fewer neurobehavioral symptoms (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Those with AFE-CS <12 to contact sports did not have worse long-term brain health outcomes compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12. Individuals with AFE-CS <12 had significantly lower British Columbia Cognitive Complaints Inventory and Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory scores compared with those with AFE-CS ≥12. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The benefits of earlier AFE-CS may outweigh the risks of head strikes and result in comparable long-term brain health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Jo
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Gunther Wong
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Kristen L Williams
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Philip J Davis
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Grant H Rigney
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Scott L Zuckerman
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
| | - Douglas P Terry
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; and
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Terry DP, Grashow R, Iverson GL, Atkeson P, Rotem R, Eagle SR, Daneshvar DH, Zuckerman SL, Zafonte RD, Weisskopf MG, Baggish A. Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post-Career Health in Former Professional American-Style Football Players. Sports Med 2024:10.1007/s40279-024-02062-9. [PMID: 38918303 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02062-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prior studies examining small samples of symptomatic former professional football players suggest that earlier age of first exposure (AFE) to American football is associated with adverse later life health outcomes. This study examined a larger, more representative sample of former professional American football players to assess associations between AFE before age 12 (AFE < 12) and clinical outcomes compared with those who started at age 12 or older (AFE 12 +). METHODS Former professional American football players who completed a questionnaire were dichotomized into AFE < 12 and AFE 12 + . AFE groups were compared on outcomes including symptoms of depression and anxiety, perceived cognitive difficulties, neurobehavioral dysregulation, and self-reported health conditions (e.g., headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, chronic pain, memory loss, dementia/Alzheimer's disease, and others). RESULTS Among 4189 former professional football players (aged 52 ± 14 years, 39% self-reported as Black), univariable associations with negligible effect sizes were seen with AFE < 12, depressive symptoms (p = 0.03; η2 = 0.001), and anxiety-related symptoms (p = 0.02; η2 = 0.001) only. Multivariable models adjusting for age, race, body mass index, playing position, number of professional seasons, and past concussion burden revealed no significant relationships between AFE < 12 and any outcome. Linear and non-linear models examining AFE as a continuous variable showed similar null results. CONCLUSIONS In a large cohort of former professional American-style football players, AFE was not independently associated with adverse later life outcomes. These findings are inconsistent with smaller studies of former professional football players. Studies examining AFE in professional football players may have limited utility and generalizability regarding policy implications for youth sports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas P Terry
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Ave South, Suite 4340, Village at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
| | - Rachel Grashow
- Harvard Medical School, Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schoen Adams Research Institute at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Sports Concussion Program, Mass General for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paula Atkeson
- Harvard Medical School, Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ran Rotem
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shawn R Eagle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Zuckerman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1500 21st Ave South, Suite 4340, Village at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Ross D Zafonte
- Harvard Medical School, Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Harvard Medical School, Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Harvard Medical School, Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and Institute for Sport Science, University of Lausanne (ISSUL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Oldham JR, Bowman TG, Walton SR, Beidler E, Campbell TR, Smetana RM, Munce TA, Larson MJ, Cullum CM, Bushaw MA, Rosenblum DJ, Cifu DX, Resch JE. Sport Type and Risk of Subsequent Injury in Collegiate Athletes Following Concussion: a LIMBIC MATARS Consortium Investigation. Brain Inj 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38317302 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2024.2310782] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between sport type (collision, contact, non-contact) and subsequent injury risk following concussion in collegiate athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective chart review of 248 collegiate athletes with diagnosed concussions (age: 20.0 ± 1.4 years; height: 179.6 ± 10.9 cm; mass: 79.0 ± 13.6 kg, 63% male) from NCAA athletic programs (n = 11) occurred between the 2015-2020 athletic seasons. Acute injuries that occurred within six months following concussion were evaluated. Subsequent injuries were grouped by lower extremity, upper extremity, trunk, or concussion. The independent variable was sport type: collision, contact, non-contact. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the risk of subsequent injury between sport types. RESULTS Approximately 28% (70/248) of athletes sustained a subsequent acute injury within six months post-concussion. Collision sport athletes had a significantly higher risk of sustaining any injury (HR: 0.41, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.62), lower extremity (HR: 0.55, p = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.97), and upper extremity (HR: 0.41, p = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.81) injuries following concussion. No differences between sport types were observed for other injuries. CONCLUSION Collision sport athletes had a higher rate of any subsequent injury, lower, and upper extremity injuries following concussion. Future research should focus on sport-specific secondary injury prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie R Oldham
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Thomas G Bowman
- Department of Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Samuel R Walton
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Erica Beidler
- Department of Athletic Training, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas R Campbell
- College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Racheal M Smetana
- Neuropsychology Assessment Clinic, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Thayne A Munce
- Environmental Influences on Health & Disease Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Michael J Larson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - C Munro Cullum
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Rosenblum
- United States Navy, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David X Cifu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jacob E Resch
- United States Navy, Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Alosco ML, Tripodis Y, Baucom ZH, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Mariani ML, Au R, Banks SJ, Barr WB, Wethe JV, Cantu RC, Coleman MJ, Dodick DW, McClean MD, McKee AC, Mez J, Palmisano JN, Martin B, Hartlage K, Lin AP, Koerte IK, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Stern RA, Shenton ME, Bouix S. White matter hyperintensities in former American football players. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:1260-1273. [PMID: 35996231 PMCID: PMC10351916 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The presentation, risk factors, and etiologies of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in people exposed to repetitive head impacts are unknown. We examined the burden and distribution of WMH, and their association with years of play, age of first exposure, and clinical function in former American football players. METHODS A total of 149 former football players and 53 asymptomatic unexposed participants (all men, 45-74 years) completed fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological testing, and self-report neuropsychiatric measures. Lesion Segmentation Toolbox estimated WMH. Analyses were performed in the total sample and stratified by age 60. RESULTS In older but not younger participants, former football players had greater total, frontal, temporal, and parietal log-WMH compared to asymptomatic unexposed men. In older but not younger former football players, greater log-WMH was associated with younger age of first exposure to football and worse executive function. DISCUSSION In older former football players, WMH may have unique presentations, risk factors, and etiologies. HIGHLIGHTS Older but not younger former football players had greater total, frontal, temporal, and parietal lobe white matter hyperintensities (WMH) compared to same-age asymptomatic unexposed men. Younger age of first exposure to football was associated with greater WMH in older but not younger former American football players. In former football players, greater WMH was associated with worse executive function and verbal memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Zachary H. Baucom
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Charles H. Adler
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
| | - Laura J. Balcer
- Departments of Neurology, Population Health and Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Charles Bernick
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Megan L. Mariani
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Rhoda Au
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, MA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Sarah J. Banks
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - William B. Barr
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Jennifer V. Wethe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
| | - Robert C. Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Michael J. Coleman
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - David W. Dodick
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
| | - Michael D. McClean
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA
| | - Joseph N. Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Brett Martin
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Kaitlin Hartlage
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Alexander P. Lin
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Inga K. Koerte
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeffrey L. Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Eric M. Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Translational Genomics Research Institute, and Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Martha E. Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sylvain Bouix
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
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Alosco ML, Ly M, Mosaheb S, Saltiel N, Uretsky M, Tripodis Y, Martin B, Palmisano J, Delano-Wood L, Bondi MW, Meng G, Xia W, Daley S, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Dwyer B, Daneshvar DH, Nowinski C, Cantu RC, Kowall NW, Stern RA, Alvarez VE, Mez J, Huber BR, McKee AC, Stein TD. Decreased myelin proteins in brain donors exposed to football-related repetitive head impacts. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad019. [PMID: 36895961 PMCID: PMC9990992 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
American football players and other individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts can exhibit a constellation of later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. While tau-based diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy can underpin certain symptoms, contributions from non-tau pathologies from repetitive head impacts are increasingly recognized. We examined cross-sectional associations between myelin integrity using immunoassays for myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 with risk factors and clinical outcomes in brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts from American football. Immunoassays for myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were conducted on dorsolateral frontal white matter tissue samples of 205 male brain donors. Proxies of exposure to repetitive head impacts included years of exposure and age of first exposure to American football play. Informants completed the Functional Activities Questionnaire, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (Behavioral Regulation Index), and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Associations between myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 with exposure proxies and clinical scales were tested. Of the 205 male brain donors who played amateur and professional football, the mean age was 67.17 (SD = 16.78), and 75.9% (n = 126) were reported by informants to be functionally impaired prior to death. Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 correlated with the ischaemic injury scale score, a global indicator of cerebrovascular disease (r = -0.23 and -0.20, respectively, Ps < 0.01). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy was the most common neurodegenerative disease (n = 151, 73.7%). Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were not associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy status, but lower proteolipid protein 1 was associated with more severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (P = 0.03). Myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 were not associated with other neurodegenerative disease pathologies. More years of football play was associated with lower proteolipid protein 1 [beta = -2.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-4.52, -0.38]] and compared with those who played <11 years of football (n = 78), those who played 11 or more years (n = 128) had lower myelin-associated glycoprotein (mean difference = 46.00, 95% CI [5.32, 86.69]) and proteolipid protein 1 (mean difference = 24.72, 95% CI [2.40, 47.05]). Younger age of first exposure corresponded to lower proteolipid protein 1 (beta = 4.35, 95% CI [0.25, 8.45]). Among brain donors who were aged 50 or older (n = 144), lower proteolipid protein 1 (beta = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.047, -0.001]) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (beta = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.03, -0.002]) were associated with higher Functional Activities Questionnaire scores. Lower myelin-associated glycoprotein correlated with higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 scores (beta = -0.02, 95% CI [-0.04, -0.0003]). Results suggest that decreased myelin may represent a late effect of repetitive head impacts that contributes to the manifestation of cognitive symptoms and impulsivity. Clinical-pathological correlation studies with prospective objective clinical assessments are needed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Ly
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sydney Mosaheb
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicole Saltiel
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Madeline Uretsky
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brett Martin
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Delano-Wood
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Bondi
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Weiming Xia
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Daley
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee E Goldstein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Biomedical, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas I Katz
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Brigid Dwyer
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Robert C Cantu
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, USA
| | - Neil W Kowall
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bertrand Russell Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann C McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Charney MF, Ye KQ, Fleysher R, DeMessie B, Stewart WF, Zimmerman ME, Kim M, Lipton RB, Lipton ML. Age of first exposure to soccer heading: Associations with cognitive, clinical, and imaging outcomes in the Einstein Soccer Study. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1042707. [PMID: 36846112 PMCID: PMC9947556 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1042707] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The objective of this study is to assess the role of age at first exposure (AFE) to soccer heading as a predictor of known adverse associations of recent and longer-term heading with brain microstructure, cognitive, and behavioral features among adult amateur soccer players. Methods The sample included 276 active amateur soccer players (196 male and 81 female) aged 18-53 years old. AFE to soccer heading was treated as a binary variable, dichotomized at ≤ 10 years vs. >10 years old, based on a recently promulgated US Soccer policy, which bans heading for athletes ages 10 and under. Results We found that soccer players who began heading at age 10 or younger performed better on tests of working memory (p = 0.03) and verbal learning (p = 0.02), while accounting for duration of heading exposure, education, sex, and verbal intelligence. No difference in brain microstructure or behavioral measures was observed between the two exposure groups. Discussion The findings indicate that, among adult amateur soccer players, AFE to heading before age 10 compared to later start of heading, is not associated with adverse outcomes, and may be associated with better cognitive performance in young adulthood. Cumulative heading exposure across the lifespan, rather than early life exposure, may drive risk for adverse effects and should be the focus of future longitudinal studies to inform approaches to enhance player safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly F. Charney
- Gruss Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Molly F. Charney ✉
| | - Kenny Q. Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Roman Fleysher
- Gruss Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Bluyé DeMessie
- Gruss Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Mimi Kim
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Richard B. Lipton
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States,Saul B. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Michael L. Lipton
- Gruss Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States,Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
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7
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Liang B, Alosco ML, Armañanzas R, Martin BM, Tripodis Y, Stern RA, Prichep LS. Long-Term Changes in Brain Connectivity Reflected in Quantitative Electrophysiology of Symptomatic Former National Football League Players. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:309-317. [PMID: 36324216 PMCID: PMC9902050 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) has been associated with long-term disturbances in cognition, mood, and neurobehavioral dysregulation, and reflected in neuroimaging. Distinct patterns of changes in quantitative features of the brain electrical activity (quantitative electroencephalogram [qEEG]) have been demonstrated to be sensitive to brain changes seen in neurodegenerative disorders and in traumatic brain injuries (TBI). While these qEEG biomarkers are highly sensitive at time of injury, the long-term effects of exposure to RHI on brain electrical activity are relatively unexplored. Ten minutes of eyes closed resting EEG data were collected from a frontal and frontotemporal electrode montage (BrainScope Food and Drug Administration-cleared EEG acquisition device), as well as assessments of neuropsychiatric function and age of first exposure (AFE) to American football. A machine learning methodology was used to derive a qEEG-based algorithm to discriminate former National Football League (NFL) players (n = 87, 55.40 ± 7.98 years old) from same-age men without history of RHI (n = 68, 54.94 ± 7.63 years old), and a second algorithm to discriminate former players with AFE <12 years (n = 33) from AFE ≥12 years (n = 54). The algorithm separating NFL retirees from controls had a specificity = 80%, a sensitivity = 60%, and an area under curve (AUC) = 0.75. Within the NFL population, the algorithm separating AFE <12 from AFE ≥12 resulted in a sensitivity = 76%, a specificity = 52%, and an AUC = 0.72. The presence of a profile of EEG abnormalities in the NFL retirees and in those with younger AFE includes features associated with neurodegeneration and the disruption of neuronal transmission between regions. These results support the long-term consequences of RHI and the potential of EEG as a biomarker of persistent changes in brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liang
- BrainScope Company, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael L. Alosco
- Boston University CTE Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ruben Armañanzas
- BrainScope Company, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
- Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Tecnun School of Engineering, Universidad de Navarra, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Brett M. Martin
- Boston University CTE Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University CTE Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Boston University CTE Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Relating American Football Age of First Exposure to Patient-Reported Outcomes and Medical Diagnoses Among Former National Football League Players: An NFL-LONG study. Sports Med 2022; 53:1073-1084. [PMID: 36479682 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01795-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The age of first exposure (AFE) to American football participation is a growing concern for late-life function. Mixed evidence exists surrounding AFE and may be attributed to varied methods employed across studies. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between AFE to American football participation with measures of cognitive, behavioral, and physical function and brain-related medical diagnoses across age categories among former National Football League players. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1784 former players (age: 52.3 ± 16.3 years, AFE: 11.3 ± 2.9 years, years of football: 17.5 ± 4.5 years, 86.9% ≥ one lifetime concussion). Players completed a general health questionnaire recording demographics, football playing history (including AFE), and diagnoses (anxiety, depression, any form of dementia, mild cognitive impairment). Players completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures assessing domains of cognitive and physical function, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, pain interference, and emotional-behavioral dyscontrol. Multivariable linear and binomial regression models were used to examine the associations of AFE and age with PROMIS outcomes and diagnoses, respectively. RESULTS No significant AFE by age interactions were detected for PROMIS outcomes (p ≥ 0.066) or diagnoses (p ≥ 0.147). Younger AFE associated with higher PROMIS scores of anxiety (B = - 0.22, p = 0.016), depression (B = - 0.22, p = 0.010), sleep disturbances (B = - 0.16, p = 0.007), pain interference (B = - 0.19, p = 0.014), and emotional-behavioral dyscontrol (B = - 0.22, p = 0.019). Age was associated with all PROMIS outcomes (p ≤ 0.042). AFE was not associated with the prevalence of anxiety, depression, dementia, or mild cognitive impairment (p ≥ 0.449), while age was (p ≤ 0.013). CONCLUSIONS AFE was significantly associated with PROMIS outcomes, albeit low-strength associations (i.e., effect sizes), but not with diagnoses. Our findings indicate AFE is a significant but minor contributing factor for health-related quality of life in this cohort. Future work should incorporate additional characterizations of cumulative head impacts and related factors when examining long-term outcomes associated with football participation.
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9
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Oldham JR, Lanois CJ, Caccese JB, Crenshaw JR, Knight CA, Berkstresser B, Wang F, Howell DR, Meehan WP, Buckley TA. Association Between Collision Sport Career Duration and Gait Performance in Male Collegiate Student-Athletes. Am J Sports Med 2022; 50:2526-2533. [PMID: 35736366 DOI: 10.1177/03635465221104685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigations of estimated age of first exposure to repetitive head impacts from collision and contact sports have shown no associations with neurocognitive or neurobehavioral function at the collegiate level, but the effect of career duration may be a more comprehensive factor. Understanding whether longer career duration influences gait performance would provide insights into potential neurological impairment. PURPOSE To examine the relationship between career duration of collision sports and single/dual-task gait performance in collegiate student-athletes. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS We recruited 168 male student-athletes from collision sports: football, lacrosse, ice hockey, and wrestling (mean ± SD age, 19.2 ± 1.3 years; height, 184.5 ± 7.2 cm; mass, 94.3 ± 15.9 kg; estimated age of first exposure, 8.6 ± 3.1 years; career duration, 10.6 ± 3.0 years). All participants completed a baseline single- and dual-task gait assessment before the start of their athletic season. Inertial measurement units were used to measure gait speed and stride length. During the dual task, participants were asked to perform working memory cognitive tasks while walking. The dependent variables were single/dual-task gait speed and stride length, cognitive accuracy, and dual-task cost. The relationship between career duration, analyzed as a continuous variable, and the dependent variables was analyzed using a linear regression. RESULTS There were no significant associations between career duration and single-task gait speed (1.16 ± 0.16 m/s; β = -0.004; P = .35; 95% CI = -0.012 to 0.004; η2 = 0.005) or dual-task gait speed (1.02 ± 0.17 m/s; β = -0.003; P = .57; 95% CI = -0.011 to 0.006; η2 = 0.002). There were also no significant associations between career duration and single/dual-task stride length, cognitive accuracy, or dual-task cost. CONCLUSION Career duration among collegiate collision sport athletes was not associated with single- or dual-task gait performance, suggesting that a greater exposure to repetitive head impacts is not detrimental to dynamic postural control at the college level. However, the effects of diminished gait performance over the lifetime remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie R Oldham
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Corey J Lanois
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeremy R Crenshaw
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Christopher A Knight
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | | | - Francis Wang
- Harvard University Health Service, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David R Howell
- Sports Medicine Center, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - William P Meehan
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas A Buckley
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.,Interdisciplinary Program in Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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10
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Iverson GL, Büttner F, Caccese JB. Age of First Exposure to Contact and Collision Sports and Later in Life Brain Health: A Narrative Review. Front Neurol 2021; 12:727089. [PMID: 34659092 PMCID: PMC8511696 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.727089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A controversial theory proposes that playing tackle football before the age of 12 causes later in life brain health problems. This theory arose from a small study of 42 retired National Football League (NFL) players, which reported that those who started playing tackle football at a younger age performed worse on selected neuropsychological tests and a word reading test. The authors concluded that these differences were likely due to greater exposure to repetitive neurotrauma during a developmentally sensitive maturational period in their lives. Several subsequent studies of current high school and collegiate contact/collision sports athletes, and former high school, collegiate, and professional tackle football players have not replicated these findings. This narrative review aims to (i) discuss the fundamental concepts, issues, and controversies surrounding existing research on age of first exposure (AFE) to contact/collision sport, and (ii) provide a balanced interpretation, including risk of bias assessment findings, of this body of evidence. Among 21 studies, 11 studies examined former athletes, 8 studies examined current athletes, and 2 studies examined both former and current athletes. Although the literature on whether younger AFE to tackle football is associated with later in life cognitive, neurobehavioral, or mental health problems in former NFL players is mixed, the largest study of retired NFL players (N = 3,506) suggested there was not a significant association between earlier AFE to organized tackle football and worse subjectively experienced cognitive functioning, depression, or anxiety. Furthermore, no published studies of current athletes show a significant association between playing tackle football (or other contact/collision sports) before the age of 12 and cognitive, neurobehavioral, or mental health problems. It is important to note that all studies were judged to be at high overall risk of bias, indicating that more methodologically rigorous research is needed to understand whether there is an association between AFE to contact/collision sports and later in life brain health. The accumulated research to date suggests that earlier AFE to contact/collision sports is not associated with worse cognitive functioning or mental health in (i) current high school athletes, (ii) current collegiate athletes, or (iii) middle-aged men who played high school football. The literature on former NFL players is mixed and does not, at present, clearly support the theory that exposure to tackle football before age 12 is associated with later in life cognitive impairment or mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Spaulding Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Fionn Büttner
- School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jaclyn B. Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Chronic Brain Injury Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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11
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Hunzinger KJ, Caccese JB, Costantini KM, Swanik CB, Buckley TA. Age of First Exposure to Collision Sports Does Not Affect Patient Reported Outcomes in Women and Men Community Rugby Players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1895-1902. [PMID: 33731652 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to repetitive head impacts through contact/collision sports and patient-reported outcomes in community rugby players. METHODS We recruited community rugby players older than 18 yr with at least 1 yr of contact rugby participation to complete an online survey. Participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) via Qualtrics. We used generalized linear models to examine the association between AFE (continuous) and patient-reported outcomes by sex, while controlling for cumulative years contact/collision sport history, age, and concussion history (yes/no). In addition, we used Mann-Whitney U tests to compare patient-reported outcomes between AFE <12 and AFE ≥12. RESULTS A total of 1037 rugby players (31.6 ± 11.3 yr (range, 18-74 yr), 59.1% men) participated in this study. Whether analyzed continuously or dichotomously at age 12 yr, younger AFE was not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes for either men or women. Positive concussion history was a significant predictor of worse BSI-18 subscores, SF-12 subscores, and SWLS in women and worse BSI-18 subscores in men. Cumulative contact/collision sport history was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression and SF-12 (Mental Component Summary) subscores in men only. In men and women, older age was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression, Anxiety, and GSI subscores; better SWLS (in men only); and better SF-12 Mental Component Summary, but worse SF-12 (Physical Component Summary). CONCLUSIONS Younger AFE to contact/collision sport is not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes in early adult rugby players. Concussion history was predictive of worse patient-reported outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Katelyn M Costantini
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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12
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Iverson GL, Caccese JB, Merz ZC, Büttner F, Terry DP. Age of First Exposure to Football Is Not Associated With Later-in-Life Cognitive or Mental Health Problems. Front Neurol 2021; 12:647314. [PMID: 34025554 PMCID: PMC8131846 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.647314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if earlier age of first exposure to football is associated with worse brain health in middle-aged and older adult men who played high school football. Methods: Men from the United States, aged 35 and older, who reported playing high school football, completed a customized, online health survey via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (mTurk) platform. Survey items included physical, psychological, and cognitive symptoms over the past week and over the past year, sports participation history (including age of first exposure to football), medical history, and concussion history. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and the British Columbia Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (BC-PSI). Results: There were 186 men (age M = 51.78, SD = 10.93) who participated in high school football, and 87 (46.8%) reported football participation starting before the age of 12 and 99 (53.2%) reported football participation at or after the age of 12. Those who started playing football at an earlier age reported a greater number of lifetime concussions (M = 1.95, SD = 1.79) compared to those who started playing at age 12 or later (M = 1.28, SD = 1.52; U = 3,257.5, p = 0.003). A similar proportion of men who played football before vs. after the age of 12 reported a lifetime history of being prescribed medications for depression, anxiety, chronic pain, headaches, or memory problems. When comparing men who played football before vs. after the age of 12, the groups did not differ significantly in their ratings of depression, anger, anxiety, headaches, migraines, neck or back pain, chronic pain, concentration problems, or memory problems over the past week or the past year. The two groups did not differ significantly in their ratings of current symptoms of depression (PHQ-8; U = 4,187.0, p = 0.74) or post-concussion-like symptoms (BC-PSI; U = 3,944.0, p = 0.53). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant correlations between the age of first exposure to football, as a continuous variable, and PHQ-8 or BC-PSI scores. Conclusion: This study adds to a rapidly growing body of literature suggesting that earlier age of first exposure to football is not associated with later-in-life brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Spaulding Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States.,Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Jaclyn B Caccese
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Zachary C Merz
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,LeBauer Department of Neurology, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, NC, United States
| | - Fionn Büttner
- Physiotherapy and Sports Science, School of Public Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Douglas P Terry
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States.,Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
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13
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Preseason Cerebrovascular Function in Adolescent Athletes. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:2734-2746. [PMID: 33754253 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-021-02764-5] [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: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sport participation, concussion history, and age of first exposure to football on preseason cerebrovascular function in adolescent athletes. Athletes (n = 53, age = 15.8 ± 1.2 years) were examined based on three exposure groupings: (1) sport participation (football vs. non-collision), (2) concussion history (none vs. ≥ 1), and (3) age of first exposure (football participants only). Transcranial Doppler assessed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and neurovascular coupling (NVC), and separate independent samples t-tests evaluated group differences in CVR and NVC outcomes. Separate univariate linear regressions determined how age of first exposure related to CVR and NVC outcomes. Linear mixed effects models assessed group differences in CVR and NVC relative response curves. Differential response to NVC visual task response was significantly greater in non-collision sport athletes (F1,2946 = 38.69, p < 0.0001) and athletes without a concussion history (F1,2946 = 25.23, p < 0.0001). Older age of first exposure significantly predicted reduced breath-holding CVR response (F1,1560 = 2.92, p = 0.03). Healthy adolescent athletes have similar pre-season cerebrovascular function despite different sport participation and concussion history. However, age of first exposure may predict CVR in adolescent football athletes. Developmental literature identifies cerebrovascular function as dynamically changing throughout adolescence. Our study provides fundamental data informing the clinical meaningfulness of short- and long-term physiological function changes.
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14
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Lynall RC, Barrett KM. Recovery after football-related concussion: Does age of first exposure matter? Neurology 2020; 95:945-946. [PMID: 32907970 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Lynall
- From the UGA Concussion Research Laboratory (R.C.L.), University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology, Athens; and Department of Neurology (K.M.B.), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.
| | - Kevin M Barrett
- From the UGA Concussion Research Laboratory (R.C.L.), University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology, Athens; and Department of Neurology (K.M.B.), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
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