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Woodrow RE, Menon DK, Stamatakis EA. Repeat traumatic brain injury exacerbates acute thalamic hyperconnectivity in humans. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae223. [PMID: 38989528 PMCID: PMC11235327 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Repeated mild traumatic brain injury is of growing interest regarding public and sporting safety and is thought to have greater adverse or cumulative neurological effects when compared with single injury. While epidemiological links between repeated traumatic brain injury and outcome have been investigated in humans, exploration of its mechanistic substrates has been largely undertaken in animal models. We compared acute neurological effects of repeat mild traumatic brain injury (n = 21) to that of single injury (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 76) using resting-state functional MRI and quantified thalamic functional connectivity, given previous identification of its prognostic potential in human mild traumatic brain injury and rodent repeat mild traumatic brain injury. Acute thalamocortical functional connectivity showed a rank-based trend of increasing connectivity with number of injuries, at local and global scales of investigation. Thus, history of as few as two previous injuries can induce a vulnerable neural environment of exacerbated hyperconnectivity, in otherwise healthy individuals from non-specialist populations. These results further establish thalamocortical functional connectivity as a scalable marker of acute injury and long-term neural dysfunction following mild traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Woodrow
- University Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - David K Menon
- University Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
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Brett BL, Klein AP, Vazirnia P, Omidfar S, Guskiewicz KK, McCrea M, Meier T. White Matter Hyperintensities and Microstructural Alterations in Contact Sport Athletes from Adolescence to Early Midlife. J Neurotrauma 2024. [PMID: 38661548 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have demonstrated associations between cumulative concussion and repetitive head impact exposure (RHI) via contact sports with white matter (WM) alterations later in life. The course of WM changes associated with exposure earlier in the lifespan are unclear. This study investigated alterations in white matter (WM hyperintensity [WMH] volume and microstructural changes) associated with concussion and RHI exposure from adolescence to early midlife, as well as the interaction between exposure and age-cohort (i.e., adolescent/young adult compared to early midlife athlete cohorts) on WM outcomes. Participating football players included an adolescent/young adulthood cohort (n=82; Mage=18.41.7) and an early midlife cohort (37 former collegiate players approximately 15-years removed from sport; Mage=37.71.4). Years of football participation and number of prior concussions were exposures of interest. White matter outcomes included log-transformed manually segmented total WMH volume and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging metrics of microstructure/organization (isotropic volume fraction[Viso], intra-cellular volume fraction[Vic], and orientation dispersion[OD]). Regression models were fit to test effects of concussion history, years of football participation, and age-cohort by years of football participation with WM outcomes. Spearman's correlations assessed associations between significant WM metrics and measures of cognitive and psychological function. A significant age-cohort by years of participation effect was observed for whole brain white matter OD, B=-0.002, SE=0.001, p=0.001. The interaction was driven by a negative association between years of participation and OD within the younger cohort, B=-0.001, SE=0.0004, p=0.008, whereas a positive association between participation and OD in the early midlife cohort, B=0.001, SE=0.0003, p=0.039, was observed. Follow-up ROI analyses showed significant interaction effects for OD in the body of the corpus callosum, genu of the corpus callosum, cingulum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, posterior thalamic radiation (ps<0.05). Greater concussion history was significantly associated with greater Viso in the early midlife cohort, B=0.001, SE= 0.0002, p=0.010. Years of participation and concussion history were not associated with WMH volume, ps>0.05. Performance on a measure of executive function was significantly associated with years of participation, =.34, p=.04, and a trend was observed for OD, =.28, p=.09 in the early midlife cohort only. The global characterization of white matter changes associated with years of football participation were broadly similar and stable from adolescence through early midlife (i.e., microstructural alterations, but not macroscopic lesions). An inverse association between years of participation and orientation dispersion across age-cohorts may represent a process of initial recovery/reorganization proximal to sport, followed by later reduction of white matter coherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 5506, Neurosurgery and Neurology, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
| | - Andrew P Klein
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 5506, Radiology, 9200 West Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
| | - Parsia Vazirnia
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 5506, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States;
| | - Samantha Omidfar
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 5506, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States;
| | - Kevin K Guskiewicz
- University of North Carolina, Exercise and Sport Science, CB#8700, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-8700;
| | - Michael McCrea
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Neurosurgery, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
| | - Timothy Meier
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Neurosurgery, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
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Domínguez D JF, Stewart A, Burmester A, Akhlaghi H, O'Brien K, Bollmann S, Caeyenberghs K. Improving quantitative susceptibility mapping for the identification of traumatic brain injury neurodegeneration at the individual level. Z Med Phys 2024:S0939-3889(24)00001-1. [PMID: 38336583 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2024.01.001] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major risk factor for developing neurodegenerative disease later in life. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has been used by an increasing number of studies in investigations of pathophysiological changes in TBI. However, generating artefact-free quantitative susceptibility maps in brains with large focal lesions, as in the case of moderate-to-severe TBI (ms-TBI), is particularly challenging. To address this issue, we utilized a novel two-pass masking technique and reconstruction procedure (two-pass QSM) to generate quantitative susceptibility maps (QSMxT; Stewart et al., 2022, Magn Reson Med.) in combination with the recently developed virtual brain grafting (VBG) procedure for brain repair (Radwan et al., 2021, NeuroImage) to improve automated delineation of brain areas. We used QSMxT and VBG to generate personalised QSM profiles of individual patients with reference to a sample of healthy controls. METHODS Chronic ms-TBI patients (N = 8) and healthy controls (N = 12) underwent (multi-echo) GRE, and anatomical MRI (MPRAGE) on a 3T Siemens PRISMA scanner. We reconstructed the magnetic susceptibility maps using two-pass QSM from QSMxT. We then extracted values of magnetic susceptibility in grey matter (GM) regions (following brain repair via VBG) across the whole brain and determined if they deviate from a reference healthy control group [Z-score < -3.43 or > 3.43, relative to the control mean], with the aim of obtaining personalised QSM profiles. RESULTS Using two-pass QSM, we achieved susceptibility maps with a substantial increase in quality and reduction in artefacts irrespective of the presence of large focal lesions, compared to single-pass QSM. In addition, VBG minimised the loss of GM regions and exclusion of patients due to failures in the region delineation step. Our findings revealed deviations in magnetic susceptibility measures from the HC group that differed across individual TBI patients. These changes included both increases and decreases in magnetic susceptibility values in multiple GM regions across the brain. CONCLUSIONS We illustrate how to obtain magnetic susceptibility values at the individual level and to build personalised QSM profiles in ms-TBI patients. Our approach opens the door for QSM investigations in more severely injured patients. Such profiles are also critical to overcome the inherent heterogeneity of clinical populations, such as ms-TBI, and to characterize the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration at the individual level more precisely. Moreover, this new personalised QSM profiling could in the future assist clinicians in assessing recovery and formulating a neuroscience-guided integrative rehabilitation program tailored to individual TBI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan F Domínguez D
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Ashley Stewart
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alex Burmester
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Hamed Akhlaghi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kieran O'Brien
- Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Steffen Bollmann
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Karen Caeyenberghs
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Brett BL, Cohen AD, McCrea MA, Wang Y. Longitudinal alterations in cerebral perfusion following a season of adolescent contact sport participation compared to non-contact athletes. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 40:103538. [PMID: 37956583 PMCID: PMC10666028 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103538] [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: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral blood flow (CBF) change, a non-invasive marker of head injury, has yet to be thoroughly investigated as a potential consequence of repetitive head impacts (RHI) via contact sport participation in youth athletes. We examined pre-to post-season differences in relative CBF (rCBF), arterial transit time (ATT), and neurocognition between adolescent contact sport (CS; 79.4% of which were football players) and non-contact sport (NCS) athletes. METHODS Adolescent athletes (N = 57; age = 14.70 ± 1.97) completed pre- and post-season clinical assessments and neuroimaging. Brain perfusion was evaluated using an advanced 3D pseudo-continuous ASL sequence with Hadamard encoded multiple post-labeling delays. Mixed-effect models tested group-by-time interactions for rCBF, ATT, and neurocognition. RESULTS A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for rCBF in a cluster consisting primarily of frontal and parietal lobe regions, with regional rCBF increasing in CS and decreasing among NCS athletes. No significant interaction was observed for ATT. A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for verbal memory and visual motor speed, with NCS athletes improving and CS athletes exhibiting lower performance from pre-to post-season in comparison. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in rCBF and variability in cognition, not purported neurovasculature changes (measured by ATT), were observed following one season of CS participation. Further study surrounding the clinical meaningfulness of these findings, as they related to adverse long-term outcomes, is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Neurosurgery, United States.
| | - Alex D Cohen
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Radiology, United States
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Neurosurgery, United States
| | - Yang Wang
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Radiology, United States.
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Danielli E, Simard N, DeMatteo CA, Kumbhare D, Ulmer S, Noseworthy MD. A review of brain regions and associated post-concussion symptoms. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1136367. [PMID: 37602240 PMCID: PMC10435092 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1136367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The human brain is an exceptionally complex organ that is comprised of billions of neurons. Therefore, when a traumatic event such as a concussion occurs, somatic, cognitive, behavioral, and sleep impairments are the common outcome. Each concussion is unique in the sense that the magnitude of biomechanical forces and the direction, rotation, and source of those forces are different for each concussive event. This helps to explain the unpredictable nature of post-concussion symptoms that can arise and resolve. The purpose of this narrative review is to connect the anatomical location, healthy function, and associated post-concussion symptoms of some major cerebral gray and white matter brain regions and the cerebellum. As a non-exhaustive description of post-concussion symptoms nor comprehensive inclusion of all brain regions, we have aimed to amalgamate the research performed for specific brain regions into a single article to clarify and enhance clinical and research concussion assessment. The current status of concussion diagnosis is highly subjective and primarily based on self-report of symptoms, so this review may be able to provide a connection between brain anatomy and the clinical presentation of concussions to enhance medical imaging assessments. By explaining anatomical relevance in terms of clinical concussion symptom presentation, an increased understanding of concussions may also be achieved to improve concussion recognition and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Danielli
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas Simard
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Carol A. DeMatteo
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Dinesh Kumbhare
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephan Ulmer
- Neurorad.ch, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael D. Noseworthy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Imaging Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Amadon GK, Goeckner BD, Brett BL, Meier TB. Comparison of Various Metrics of Repetitive Head Impact Exposure And Their Associations With Neurocognition in Collegiate-Aged Athletes. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 38:714-723. [PMID: 36617242 PMCID: PMC10369361 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Characterize the levels of various metrics of repetitive head impacts (RHI) in contact (CS) and non-contact (NCS) sport athletes and determine the extent to which they are associated with fluid cognition. METHODS Collegiate-aged athletes (n = 176) completed semi-structured interviews about participation in contact sport. RHI was operationalized based on current sport (CS/NCS), the cumulative number of years of participation, age at first exposure (AFE), and based on recently proposed traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) categories. The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery assessed fluid cognition. General linear models compared RHI metrics between CS and NCS athletes and tested associations of RHI measures with fluid cognition. RESULTS CS athletes had more years of RHI exposure, higher rates of "extensive" exposure based on TES criteria, and were more likely to have AFE before age 12 relative to NCS (ps < .001). A subset of NCS athletes, however, reported prior RHI at levels categorized as being "extensive" based on TES criteria (5%), while a larger minority had AFE before 12 (34%). No adverse associations of RHI and fluid cognition were observed (ps > .05). Across all RHI metrics, more or earlier RHI was associated with better episodic memory (ps ≤ .05). Secondary analyses showed this effect was driven by women. CONCLUSIONS Current results find no evidence that RHI in collegiate-aged athletes is associated with worse neurocognition. Although there was extensive overlap among RHI measures, results demonstrate that categorizing athletes based on their current sport undercounts the lifetime RHI exposure in many NCS athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace K Amadon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Bryna D Goeckner
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Benjamin L Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Veliz PT, Berryhill ME. Gender Differences in Adolescents' Affective Symptoms and Behavioral Disorders After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2023; 38:308-318. [PMID: 36689685 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) are considered self-limiting and full recovery is expected. Recent studies identify deficits persisting years after mTBI. Large-scale prospective data permit testing the hypothesis that mTBI increases incidence of affective and behavioral symptoms after new, past , or new and past mTBI. SETTING The study involved secondary analyses of survey responses from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. PARTICIPANTS Adolescents in the ABCD Study ( n = 11 869; Wave 1, aged 9-10 years; Wave 2, aged 11-12 years) whose parents reported a new ( n = 157), past ( n = 1318), or new and past ( n = 50) mTBI on the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method short form were compared with controls who had no history of mTBI ( n = 9,667). DESIGN Multivariable binary logistic regression models examined associations between a new, past, or new and past mTBI and current affective (aggression, depression, anxiety) and behavioral (somatic, thought, social, attention, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct) disorders while controlling for demographic factors and baseline symptoms. MAIN MEASURES The primary measure was parental reports of psychiatric and behavioral symptoms on the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Girls exhibited no significant effects after a new mTBI, although a past mTBI increased anxiety (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI: 1.15-2.90]) and attention (1.89 [1.09-3.28]) problems. Girls with new and past mTBIs reported elevated anxiety (17.90 [4.67-68.7]), aggression (7.37 [1.49-36.3]), social (9.07 [2.47-33.30]), thought (7.58 [2.24-25.60]), and conduct (6.39 [1.25-32.50]) disorders. In boys, new mTBI increased aggression (aOR = 3.83, 95% CI [1.42-10.30]), whereas past mTBI heightened anxiety (1.91 [1.42-2.95]), but new and past mTBIs had no significant effects. CONCLUSION Adolescents are at greater risk of affective and behavioral symptoms after an mTBI. These effects differ as a function of gender and time of injury. Extended screening for mTBI history and monitoring of affective and behavioral disorders after mTBI in adolescents are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip T Veliz
- School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Dr Veliz); and Department of Psychology, Programs in Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno (Dr Berryhill)
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Makdissi M, Critchley ML, Cantu RC, Caron JG, Davis GA, Echemendia RJ, Fremont P, Hayden KA, Herring SA, Hinds SR, Jordan B, Kemp S, McNamee M, Maddocks D, Nagahiro S, Patricios J, Putukian M, Turner M, Sick S, Schneider KJ. When should an athlete retire or discontinue participating in contact or collision sports following sport-related concussion? A systematic review. Br J Sports Med 2023; 57:822-830. [PMID: 37316181 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-106815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically review the scientific literature regarding factors to consider when providing advice or guidance to athletes about retirement from contact or collision sport following sport-related concussion (SRC), and to define contraindications to children/adolescent athletes entering or continuing with contact or collision sports after SRC. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, SPORTSDiscus, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched systematically. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Studies were included if they were (1) original research, (2) reported on SRC as the primary source of injury, (3) evaluated the history, clinical assessment and/or investigation of findings that may preclude participation in sport and (4) evaluated mood disturbance and/or neurocognitive deficits, evidence of structural brain injury or risk factors for increased risk of subsequent SRC or prolonged recovery. RESULTS Of 4355 articles identified, 93 met the inclusion criteria. None of the included articles directly examined retirement and/or discontinuation from contact or collision sport. Included studies examined factors associated with increased risk of recurrent SRC or prolonged recovery following SRC. In general, these were low-quality cohort studies with heterogeneous results and moderate risk of bias. Higher number and/or severity of symptoms at presentation, sleep disturbance and symptom reproduction with Vestibular Ocular Motor Screen testing were associated with prolonged recovery and history of previous concussion was associated with a risk of further SRC. CONCLUSION No evidence was identified to support the inclusion of any patient-specific, injury-specific or other factors (eg, imaging findings) as absolute indications for retirement or discontinued participation in contact or collision sport following SRC. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022155121.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Makdissi
- Australian Football League, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health - Austin Campus, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Meghan L Critchley
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert C Cantu
- Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Caron
- School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gavin A Davis
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ruben J Echemendia
- Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Orthopedics Center Concussion Care Clinic, State College, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Pierre Fremont
- Rehabilitation, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - K Alix Hayden
- Libraries and Cultural Resources, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stanley A Herring
- Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Barry Jordan
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Simon Kemp
- Sports Medicine, Rugby Football Union, London, UK
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Michael McNamee
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - David Maddocks
- Perry Maddocks Trollope Lawyers, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shinji Nagahiro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yoshinogawa Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Jon Patricios
- Sport and Health (WiSH), School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Margot Putukian
- Major League Soccer, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael Turner
- International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation, London, UK
- University College London, London, UK
| | - Stacy Sick
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kathryn J Schneider
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Theadom A, Meehan L, McCallum S, Pacheco G. Mild traumatic brain injury increases engagement in criminal behaviour 10 years later: a case-control study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1154707. [PMID: 37215665 PMCID: PMC10197901 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1154707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been linked to increased criminal behaviour in later life. However, previous studies have not controlled for the number of injuries, gender, social deprivation, impact of past behaviour, or link to offence type. This study aims to determine if people who experienced a single or multiple mTBI have increased risk of criminal behaviour 10 years post-injury than matched orthopaedic controls. Methods This was a case control study of adults (aged >16 years) who experienced a medically diagnosed mTBI and controls who experienced a lower limb fracture (with no TBI) over a 12-month period (01/01/2003-31/12/2003). Participants were identified within Stats New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure (national database including health and justice records). Participants who experienced a subsequent TBI (post-2003), who were not resident in New Zealand, and who died by 2013 were excluded. Case and controls were matched by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation index and pre-injury criminal history. Results The study included N = 6,606 mTBI cases and N = 15,771 matched trauma controls. In the 10 years after injury, people experiencing a single mTBI had significantly higher numbers of violent charges (0.26 versus 0.21, p < 0.01) and violent convictions (0.16 versus 0.13, p < 0.05) but not for all court charges and convictions. Analysis of those with a history of prior mTBIs yielded larger effects, with significantly higher numbers of violent charges (0.57 versus 0.24, p < 0.05) and violent convictions (0.34 versus 0.14, p < 0.05). For males, the single mTBI case group had a significantly higher number of violent charges (0.40 versus 0.31, p < 0.05) and violent convictions (0.24 versus 0.20, p < 0.05) but this was not observed for females or all offence types. Discussion Experiencing multiple mTBIs over the lifetime increases the number of subsequent violence-related charges and convictions but not for all offence types in males but not for females. These findings highlight the need for improved recognition and treatment of mTBI to prevent future engagement in antisocial behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Theadom
- Traumatic Brain Injury Network, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Meehan
- New Zealand Work Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sandra McCallum
- Traumatic Brain Injury Network, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
- New Zealand Work Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gail Pacheco
- New Zealand Work Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
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Ransom DM, Ahumada LM, Mularoni PP, Trammell TR. Longitudinal Outcomes of Cumulative Impact Exposure on Oculomotor Functioning in Professional Motorsport Drivers. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2311086. [PMID: 37129896 PMCID: PMC10155066 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11086] [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] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Professional motorsport drivers are regularly exposed to biomechanical forces comparable with those experienced by contact and collision sport athletes, and little is known about the potential short-term and long-term neurologic sequelae. Objective To determine whether cumulative impact exposure is associated with oculomotor functioning in motorsport drivers from the INDYCAR professional open-wheel automobile racing series. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a longitudinal retrospective cohort study conducted across 3 racing seasons (2017-2019). Statistical analyses were conducted in November 2021. Data were retrieved from a secondary care setting associated with the INDYCAR series. INDYCAR series drivers who participated in 3 professional level racing seasons and were involved in at least 1 contact incident (ie, crash) in 2 of the 3 seasons were included in the study. Exposure Cumulative acceleration and deceleration forces and total contact incidents (ie, crashes) measured via accident data recorder third generation chassis and ear accelerometers. Main Outcomes and Measures Postseries oculomotor performance, including predictive saccades, vergence smooth pursuit, and optokinetic nystagmus, was measured annually with a head-mounted, clinical eye tracking system (Neurolign Dx 100). Results Thirteen drivers (mean [SD] age, 29.36 [7.82] years; all men) sustained median resultant acceleration forces of 38.15 g (observed range, 12.01-93.05 g; 95% CI, 30.62-65.81 g) across 81 crashes. A 2-way multivariate analysis of variance did not reveal a statistically significant association between ear and chassis average resultant g forces, total number of contact incidents, and racing season assessed (F9,12 = 0.955; P = .54; Wilks Λ = 0.44). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of professional drivers from the INDYCAR series, there were no statistically significant associations among cumulative impact exposure, racing season assessed, and oculomotor performance. Longitudinal studies across racing seasons using multidimensional examination modalities (eg, neurocognitive testing, advanced imaging, biomarkers, and physical examination) are critical to understand potential neurological and neurobehavioral sequelae and long-term consequences of cumulative impact exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Ransom
- Division of Neuropsychology, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida
- Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Luis M Ahumada
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - P Patrick Mularoni
- Institute for Brain Protection Sciences, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida
- Division of Sports Medicine, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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11
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Knutsen AK, Vidhate S, McIlvain G, Luster J, Galindo EJ, Johnson CL, Pham DL, Butman JA, Mejia-Alvarez R, Tartis M, Willis AM. Characterization of material properties and deformation in the ANGUS phantom during mild head impacts using MRI. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105586. [PMID: 36516544 PMCID: PMC10169236 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern affecting both military and civilian populations. Despite notable advances in TBI research in recent years, there remains a significant gap in linking the impulsive loadings from a blast or a blunt impact to the clinical injury patterns observed in TBI. Synthetic head models or phantoms can be used to establish this link as they can be constructed with geometry, anatomy, and material properties that match the human brain, and can be used as an alternative to animal models. This study presents one such phantom called the Anthropomorphic Neurologic Gyrencephalic Unified Standard (ANGUS) phantom, which is an idealized gyrencephalic brain phantom composed of polyacrylamide gel. Here we mechanically characterized the ANGUS phantom using tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), and then compared the outcomes to data obtained in healthy volunteers. The direct comparison between the phantom's response and the data from a cohort of in vivo human subjects demonstrate that the ANGUS phantom may be an appropriate model for bulk tissue response and gyral dynamics of the human brain under small amplitude linear impulses. However, the phantom's response differs from that of the in vivo human brain under rotational impacts, suggesting avenues for future improvements to the phantom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K Knutsen
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, The Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Suhas Vidhate
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Grace McIlvain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Josh Luster
- Department of Neurology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA
| | - Eric J Galindo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, 87801, USA
| | - Curtis L Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Dzung L Pham
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, The Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - John A Butman
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ricardo Mejia-Alvarez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Michaelann Tartis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, 87801, USA
| | - Adam M Willis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; 59th Medical Wing, Office of the Chief Scientist, Lackland AFB, TX, 78236, USA
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12
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Register-Mihalik J, Leeds DD, Kroshus E, Kerr ZY, Knight K, D'Lauro C, Lynall RC, Ahmed T, Hagiwara Y, Broglio SP, McCrea MA, McAllister TW, Schmidt JD. Optimizing Concussion Care Seeking: Identification of Factors Predicting Previous Concussion Diagnosis Status. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022; 54:2087-2098. [PMID: 35881927 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is limited understanding of factors affecting concussion diagnosis status using large sample sizes. The study objective was to identify factors that can accurately classify previous concussion diagnosis status among collegiate student-athletes and service academy cadets with concussion history. METHODS This retrospective study used support vector machine, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, and decision tree machine learning techniques to identify individual (e.g., sex) and institutional (e.g., academic caliber) factors that accurately classify previous concussion diagnosis status (all diagnosed vs 1+ undiagnosed) among Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education Consortium participants with concussion histories ( n = 7714). RESULTS Across all classifiers, the factors examined enable >50% classification between previous diagnosed and undiagnosed concussion histories. However, across 20-fold cross validation, ROC-AUC accuracy averaged between 56% and 65% using all factors. Similar performance is achieved considering individual risk factors alone. By contrast, classifications with institutional risk factors typically did not distinguish between those with all concussions diagnosed versus 1+ undiagnosed; average performances using only institutional risk factors were almost always <58%, including confidence intervals for many groups <50%. Participants with more extensive concussion histories were more commonly classified as having one or more of those previous concussions undiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS Although the current study provides preliminary evidence about factors to help classify concussion diagnosis status, more work is needed given the tested models' accuracy. Future work should include a broader set of theoretically indicated factors, at levels ranging from individual behavioral determinants to features of the setting in which the individual was injured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johna Register-Mihalik
- Matthew Gfeller Center and STAR Heel Performance Laboratory, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Daniel D Leeds
- Computer and Information Sciences, Fordham University, New York, NY
| | - Emily Kroshus
- Department of Pediatrics and Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child, Development and Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Zachary Yukio Kerr
- Matthew Gfeller Center and Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | - Christopher D'Lauro
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
| | - Robert C Lynall
- UGA Concussion Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Tanvir Ahmed
- Computer and Information Sciences, Fordham University, New York, NY
| | - Yuta Hagiwara
- Computer and Information Sciences, Fordham University, New York, NY
| | - Steven P Broglio
- University of Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Thomas W McAllister
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Julianne D Schmidt
- UGA Concussion Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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13
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Asken BM, Tanner JA, VandeVrede L, Casaletto KB, Staffaroni AM, Mundada N, Fonseca C, Iaccarino L, La Joie R, Tsuei T, Mladinov M, Grant H, Shankar R, Wang KKW, Xu H, Cobigo Y, Rosen H, Gardner RC, Perry DC, Miller BL, Spina S, Seeley WW, Kramer JH, Grinberg LT, Rabinovici GD. Multi-Modal Biomarkers of Repetitive Head Impacts and Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Clinicopathological Case Series. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:1195-1213. [PMID: 35481808 PMCID: PMC9422800 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) criteria were developed to aid diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) pathology during life. Interpreting clinical and biomarker findings in patients with TES during life necessitates autopsy-based determination of the neuropathological profile. We report a clinicopathological series of nine patients with previous repetitive head impacts (RHI) classified retrospectively using the recent TES research framework (100% male and white/Caucasian, age at death 49-84) who completed antemortem neuropsychological evaluations, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (n = 6), (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (n = 5), and plasma measurement of neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and total tau (n = 8). Autopsies were performed on all patients. Cognitively, low test scores and longitudinal decline were relatively consistent for memory and executive function. Medial temporal lobe atrophy was observed in all nine patients. Poor white matter integrity was consistently found in the fornix. Glucose hypometabolism was most common in the medial temporal lobe and thalamus. Most patients had elevated plasma GFAP, NfL, and total tau at their initial visit and a subset showed longitudinally increasing concentrations. Neuropathologically, five of the nine patients had CTE pathology (n = 4 "High CTE"/McKee Stage III-IV, n = 1 "Low CTE"/McKee Stage I). Primary neuropathological diagnoses (i.e., the disease considered most responsible for observed symptoms) were frontotemporal lobar degeneration (n = 2 FTLD-TDP, n = 1 FTLD-tau), Alzheimer disease (n = 3), CTE (n = 2), and primary age-related tauopathy (n = 1). In addition, hippocampal sclerosis was a common neuropathological comorbidity (n = 5) and associated with limbic-predominant TDP-43 proteinopathy (n = 4) or FTLD-TDP (n = 1). Memory and executive function decline, limbic system brain changes (atrophy, decreased white matter integrity, hypometabolism), and plasma biomarker alterations are common in RHI and TES but may reflect multiple neuropathologies. In particular, the neuropathological differential for patients with RHI or TES presenting with medial temporal atrophy and memory loss should include limbic TDP-43. Researchers and clinicians should be cautious in attributing cognitive, neuroimaging, or other biomarker changes solely to CTE tau pathology based on previous RHI or a TES diagnosis alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breton M. Asken
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jeremy A. Tanner
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lawren VandeVrede
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kaitlin B. Casaletto
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Adam M. Staffaroni
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nidhi Mundada
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Corrina Fonseca
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Leonardo Iaccarino
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Renaud La Joie
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Torie Tsuei
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Miho Mladinov
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Harli Grant
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ranjani Shankar
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Kevin K. W. Wang
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics & Biomarkers Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Chemistry, McKnight Brain Institute, 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
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics & Biomarkers Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Chemistry, McKnight Brain Institute, 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
| | - Yann Cobigo
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Howie Rosen
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Raquel C. Gardner
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David C. Perry
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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14
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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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15
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Brett BL, Walton S, Meier T, Nencka AS, Powell JR, Giovanello KS, Guskiewicz KK, McCrea M. Head impact exposure, grey matter volume, and moderating effects of estimated IQ and educational attainment in former athletes at midlife. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:497-507. [PMID: 35044240 PMCID: PMC8978573 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure has been associated with differences in brain structure among younger active athletes, most often within the hippocampus. Studies of former athletes at early-midlife are limited. We investigated the association between RHI exposure and grey matter structure, as well as moderating factors, among former athletes in early-midlife. Former collegiate football players (N=55; age=37.9+1.5 years) completed magnetic resonance imaging to quantify grey matter morphometry and extensive structured interviews of RHI history (Head Impact Exposure Estimate). Linear regression models tested the association between RHI exposure and GM structures of interest. Interactions were tested for moderators: two estimates of IQ (single word reading and picture vocabulary) and education history. Greater RHI exposure was associated with smaller hippocampal volume, β=-.36, p=.004. Conversely, RHI exposure was not significantly associated with other GM outcomes ps>.05. Education history significantly moderated the association between RHI exposure and hippocampal volume, β=.69, p=.047. Among those with a bachelor's degree, greater RHI exposure was significantly associated with smaller hippocampal volumes, β=-.58, p<.001. For those with graduate/professional degrees, the association between RHI and hippocampal volume was not significant, β=-.33, p=.134. Consistent with studies involving younger, active athletes, smaller hippocampal volumes were selectively associated with greater RHI exposure among former collegiate football players at midlife. This relationship was moderated by higher levels of education. Future longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the course of possible changes that can occur between early-midlife to older ages, as well as the continued protective effect of education and other potential influential factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Brett
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 5506, Neurosurgery and Neurology, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
| | - Samuel Walton
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill College of Arts and Sciences, 169101, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States;
| | - Timothy Meier
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Neurosurgery, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
| | - Andrew S Nencka
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Biophysics, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States;
| | - Jacob R Powell
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill College of Arts and Sciences, 169101, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States;
| | - Kelly S Giovanello
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Psychology, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States;
| | - Kevin K Guskiewicz
- University of North Carolina, Exercise and Sport Science, CB#8700, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599-8700;
| | - Michael McCrea
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Neurosurgery, Hub for Collaborative Medicine, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226;
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16
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Disparate Associations of Years of Football Participation and a Metric of Head Impact Exposure with Neurobehavioral Outcomes in Former Collegiate Football Players. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 28:22-34. [PMID: 33563361 PMCID: PMC8353007 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617721000047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Years of sport participation (YoP) is conventionally used to estimate cumulative repetitive head impacts (RHI) experienced by contact sport athletes. The relationship of this measure to other estimates of head impact exposure and the potential associations of these measures with neurobehavioral functioning are unknown. We investigated the association between YoP and the Head Impact Exposure Estimate (HIEE), and whether associations between the two estimates of exposure and neurobehavioral functioning varied. METHODS Former American football players (N = 58; age = 37.9 ± 1.5 years) completed in-person evaluations approximately 15 years following sport discontinuation. Assessments consisted of neuropsychological assessment and structured interviews of head impact history (i.e., HIEE). General linear models were fit to test the association between YoP and the HIEE, and their associations with neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS YoP was weakly correlated with the HIEE, p = .005, R2 = .13. Higher YoP was associated with worse performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, p = .004, R2 = .14, and Trail Making Test-B, p = .001, R2 = .18. The HIEE was associated with worse performance on the Delayed Recall trial of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, p = .020, R2 = .09, self-reported cognitive difficulties (Neuro-QoL Cognitive Function), p = .011, R2 = .10, psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory-18), p = .018, R2 = .10, and behavioral regulation (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults), p = .017, R2 = .10. CONCLUSIONS YoP was marginally associated with the HIEE, a comprehensive estimate of head impacts sustained over a career. Associations between each exposure estimate and neurobehavioral functioning outcomes differed. Findings have meaningful implications for efforts to accurately quantify the risk of adverse long-term neurobehavioral outcomes potentially associated with RHI.
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17
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Asken BM, Rabinovici GD. Identifying degenerative effects of repetitive head trauma with neuroimaging: a clinically-oriented review. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:96. [PMID: 34022959 PMCID: PMC8141132 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Varying severities and frequencies of head trauma may result in dynamic acute and chronic pathophysiologic responses in the brain. Heightened attention to long-term effects of head trauma, particularly repetitive head trauma, has sparked recent efforts to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of underlying disease processes. Imaging modalities like structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are the most clinically applicable given their use in neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and differentiation. In recent years, researchers have targeted repetitive head trauma cohorts in hopes of identifying in vivo biomarkers for underlying biologic changes that might ultimately improve diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living persons. These populations most often include collision sport athletes (e.g., American football, boxing) and military veterans with repetitive low-level blast exposure. We provide a clinically-oriented review of neuroimaging data from repetitive head trauma cohorts based on structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET. We supplement the review with two patient reports of neuropathology-confirmed, clinically impaired adults with prior repetitive head trauma who underwent structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET in addition to comprehensive clinical examinations before death. REVIEW CONCLUSIONS Group-level comparisons to controls without known head trauma have revealed inconsistent regional volume differences, with possible propensity for medial temporal, limbic, and subcortical (thalamus, corpus callosum) structures. Greater frequency and severity (i.e., length) of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is observed in repetitive head trauma cohorts compared to unexposed controls. It remains unclear whether CSP predicts a particular neurodegenerative process, but CSP presence should increase suspicion that clinical impairment is at least partly attributable to the individual's head trauma exposure (regardless of underlying disease). PET imaging similarly has not revealed a prototypical metabolic or molecular pattern associated with repetitive head trauma or predictive of CTE based on the most widely studied radiotracers. Given the range of clinical syndromes and neurodegenerative pathologies observed in a subset of adults with prior repetitive head trauma, structural MRI and PET imaging may still be useful for differential diagnosis (e.g., assessing suspected Alzheimer's disease).
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Affiliation(s)
- Breton M. Asken
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Departments of Neurology, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
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