1
|
Wu Y, Wu H, Guo X, Pluimer B, Zhao Z. Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Evidence From Preclinical Murine Models. Front Physiol 2020; 11:1030. [PMID: 32973558 PMCID: PMC7472692 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.01030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) represents more than 80% of total TBI cases and is a robust environmental risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Besides direct neuronal injury and neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is also a hallmark event of the pathological cascades after mTBI. However, the vascular link between BBB impairment caused by mTBI and subsequent neurodegeneration remains undefined. In this review, we focus on the preclinical evidence from murine models of BBB dysfunction in mTBI and provide potential mechanistic links between BBB disruption and the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingxi Wu
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Haijian Wu
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinying Guo
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brock Pluimer
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Deng H, Ordaz A, Upadhyayula PS, Gillis-Buck EM, Suen CG, Melhado CG, Mohammed N, Lam T, Yue JK. Apolipoprotein E Epsilon 4 Genotype, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:E78. [PMID: 30223506 PMCID: PMC6163513 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6030078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The annual incidence of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is 3.8 million in the USA with 10⁻15% experiencing persistent morbidity beyond one year. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau, can occur with repetitive MTBI. Risk factors for CTE are challenging to identify because injury mechanisms of MTBI are heterogeneous, clinical manifestations and management vary, and CTE is a postmortem diagnosis, making prospective studies difficult. There is growing interest in the genetic influence on head trauma and development of CTE. Apolipoprotein epsilon 4 (APOE-ε4) associates with many neurologic diseases, and consensus on the ε4 allele as a risk factor is lacking. This review investigates the influence of APOE-ε4 on MTBI and CTE. A comprehensive PubMed literature search (1966 to 12 June 2018) identified 24 unique reports on the topic (19 MTBI studies: 8 athletic, 5 military, 6 population-based; 5 CTE studies: 4 athletic and military, 1 leucotomy group). APOE-ε4 genotype is found to associate with outcomes in 4/8 athletic reports, 3/5 military reports, and 5/6 population-based reports following MTBI. Evidence on the association between APOE-ε4 and CTE from case series is equivocal. Refining modalities to aid CTE diagnosis in larger samples is needed in MTBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hansen Deng
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| | - Angel Ordaz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| | - Pavan S Upadhyayula
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Eva M Gillis-Buck
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
| | - Catherine G Suen
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Caroline G Melhado
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| | - Nebil Mohammed
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| | - Troy Lam
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| | - John K Yue
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Servatius RJ, Spiegler KM, Handy JD, Pang KC, Tsao JW, Mazzola CA. Neurocognitive and Fine Motor Deficits in Asymptomatic Adolescents during the Subacute Period after Concussion. J Neurotrauma 2018; 35:1008-1014. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Servatius
- Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York
| | - Kevin M. Spiegler
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Justin D. Handy
- Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- Central New York Research Corporation, Syracuse, New York
| | - Kevin C.H. Pang
- Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Jack W. Tsao
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
- Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Catherine A. Mazzola
- Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey
- Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, New Jersey
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abou-El-Hassan H, Dia B, Choucair K, Eid SA, Najdi F, Baki L, Talih F, Eid AA, Kobeissy F. Traumatic brain injury, diabetic neuropathy and altered-psychiatric health: The fateful triangle. Med Hypotheses 2017; 108:69-80. [PMID: 29055405 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury is a detrimental medical condition particularly when accompanied by diabetes. There are several comorbidities going along with diabetes including, but not limited to, kidney failure, obesity, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, stroke, neuropathies and amputations. Unlike diabetes type 1, diabetes type 2 is more common in adults who simultaneously suffer from other comorbid conditions making them susceptible to repetitive fall incidents and sustaining head trauma. The resulting brain insult exacerbates current psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, which, in turn, increases the risk of sustaining further brain traumas. The relationship between diabetes, traumatic brain injury and psychiatric health constitutes a triad forming a non-reversible vicious cycle. At the proteomic and psychiatric levels, cellular, molecular and behavioral alterations have been reported with the induction of non-traumatic brain injury in diabetic models such as stroke. However, research into traumatic brain injury has not been systematically investigated. Thus, in cases of diabetic neuropathy complicated with traumatic brain injury, utilizing fine structural and analytical techniques allows the identification of key biological markers that can then be used as innovative diagnostics as well as novel therapeutic targets in an attempt to treat diabetes and its sequelae especially those arising from repetitive mild brain trauma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Abou-El-Hassan
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Batoul Dia
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Khalil Choucair
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Stephanie A Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Farah Najdi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lama Baki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Farid Talih
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Assaad A Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stovitz SD, Weseman JD, Hooks MC, Schmidt RJ, Koffel JB, Patricios JS. What Definition Is Used to Describe Second Impact Syndrome in Sports? A Systematic and Critical Review. Curr Sports Med Rep 2017; 16:50-55. [PMID: 28067742 DOI: 10.1249/jsr.0000000000000326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Concern about what has been termed, "second impact syndrome" (SIS) is a major factor determining return-to-play decisions after concussion. However, definitions of SIS vary. We used Scopus to conduct a systematic review and categorize the definitions used to describe SIS. Of the 91 sources identified, 79 (87%) clearly specified that SIS involved either cerebral edema or death after a concussion when a prior concussion had not resolved. Twelve articles (13%) could be interpreted as merely the events of two consecutive concussions. Among the articles that listed mortality rates, nearly all (33/35, 94%) said the rate of death was "high" (e.g., 50% to 100%). Our review found that most articles define SIS as a syndrome requiring catastrophic brain injury after consecutive concussive episodes. Given that it is unclear how common it is to have a second concussion while not fully recovered from a first concussion, the actual mortality rate of SIS is unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven D Stovitz
- 1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; 2University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN; 3Bio-Medical Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; 4Section of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and 5Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
McLendon LA, Kralik SF, Grayson PA, Golomb MR. The Controversial Second Impact Syndrome: A Review of the Literature. Pediatr Neurol 2016; 62:9-17. [PMID: 27421756 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Second impact syndrome is a devastating injury that primarily affects athletic children and young adults. It occurs when a second concussion occurs before symptoms from the first concussion have resolved. Diffuse and often catastrophic cerebral edema results. Reports of second impact syndrome are few, and some argue that second impact syndrome is simply diffuse cerebral swelling unrelated to the first concussion. METHODS Ovid and PubMed were searched from years 1946 to 2015 using the terms "second impact syndrome," "repeat concussion," and "catastrophic brain injury." In addition, review articles were found using a combination of the terms, "concussion," "second impact syndrome," and "repetitive head trauma." RESULTS Seventeen patients in seven publications met the criteria of having two witnessed hits and persistent symptoms from the first to the second concussion. Ten of the 17 (59%) included individuals were football players. All were male. Ages ranged from 13 to 23 years. All children with poor outcomes (death or permanent disability) were younger than 20 years, while four of the five players with good outcomes were older than 19 years. The lag time from first to second concussion ranged from one hour to four weeks, and in many cases, at least one of the two hits appeared minor. CONCLUSIONS American football, male gender, and young age appear to be associated with second impact syndrome. Controversies surrounding this syndrome are discussed. There is a need for prospective studies to clarify risk factors and outcomes of second impact syndrome to guide return-to-play recommendations for young athletes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loren A McLendon
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Stephen F Kralik
- Division of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Patricia A Grayson
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Meredith R Golomb
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fernandes FAO, de Sousa RJA. Head injury predictors in sports trauma--a state-of-the-art review. Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2016; 229:592-608. [PMID: 26238791 DOI: 10.1177/0954411915592906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Head injuries occur in a great variety of sports. Many of these have been associated with neurological injuries, affecting the central nervous system. Some examples are motorsports, cycling, skiing, horse riding, mountaineering and most contact sports such as football, ice and field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, etc. The outcome of head impacts in these sports can be very severe. The worst-case scenarios of permanent disability or even death are possibilities. Over recent decades, many In recent decades, a great number of head injury criteria and respective thresholds have been proposed. However, the available information is much dispersed and a consensus has still not been achieved regarding the best injury criteria or even their thresholds. This review paper gives a thorough overview of the work carried out by the scientific community in the field of impact biomechanics about head injuries sustained during sports activity. The main goal is to review the head injury criteria, as well as their thresholds. Several are reviewed, from the predictors based on kinematics to the ones based on human tissue thresholds. In this work, we start to briefly introduce the head injuries and their mechanisms commonly seen as a result of head trauma in sports. Then, we present and summarize the head injury criteria and their respective thresholds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fábio A O Fernandes
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J Alves de Sousa
- Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Alexander DG, Shuttleworth-Edwards AB, Kidd M, Malcolm CM. Mild traumatic brain injuries in early adolescent rugby players: Long-term neurocognitive and academic outcomes. Brain Inj 2015; 29:1113-25. [DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1031699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
9
|
A Model of Current Best Practice for Managing Concussion in University Athletes: The University of Toronto Approach. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL SPORT PSYCHOLOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1123/jcsp.6.3.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Along with the ever growing awareness among the scientific community and the general public that concussion is a serious health care issue at all levels of sport, with potentially devastating long term health effects, the number of concussion surveillance clinical monitoring programs has significantly increased internationally over the past 10–15 years. An effective concussion program (a “best practice” model) is clinically prudent and evidence-based, one that is an interdisciplinary model involving health professionals who manage, educate, and provide psychosocial support to athletes. The integration of neuropsychological assessment is a component of many present day programs, and therefore, the neuropsychologist is an integral member of the concussion management team. The University of Toronto Concussion Program, operational since 1999, integrates best practices and current evidence into a working model of concussion management for university athletes. The model uses an interdisciplinary approach to monitor and assess athletes with concussions, as well as to educate its athletes, coaches, and administrators. A research component is also integral to the program.
Collapse
|
10
|
Knapik JJ, Marshall SW, Lee RB, Darakjy SS, Jones SB, Mitchener TA, delaCruz GG, Jones BH. Mouthguards in Sport Activities. Sports Med 2007; 37:117-44. [PMID: 17241103 DOI: 10.2165/00007256-200737020-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Three systematic reviews were conducted on: (i) the history of mouthguard use in sports; (ii) mouthguard material and construction; and (iii) the effectiveness of mouthguards in preventing orofacial injuries and concussions. Retrieval databases and bibliographies were explored to find studies using specific key words for each topic. The first recorded use of mouthguards was by boxers, and in the 1920s professional boxing became the first sport to require mouthguards. Advocacy by the American Dental Association led to the mandating of mouthguards for US high school football in the 1962 season. Currently, the US National Collegiate Athletic Association requires mouthguards for four sports (ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey and football). However, the American Dental Association recommends the use of mouthguards in 29 sports/exercise activities. Mouthguard properties measured in various studies included shock-absorbing capability, hardness, stiffness (indicative of protective capability), tensile strength, tear strength (indicative of durability) and water absorption. Materials used for mouthguards included: (i) polyvinylacetate-polyethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer; (ii) polyvinylchloride; (iii) latex rubber; (iv) acrylic resin; and (v) polyurethane. Latex rubber was a popular material used in early mouthguards but it has lower shock absorbency, lower hardness and less tear and tensile strength than EVA or polyurethane. Among the more modern materials, none seems to stand out as superior to another since the characteristics of all the modern materials can be manipulated to provide a range of favourable characteristics. Impact studies have shown that compared with no mouthguard, mouthguards composed of many types of materials reduce the number of fractured teeth and head acceleration. In mouthguard design, consideration must be given to the nature of the collision (hard or soft objects) and characteristics of the mouth (e.g. brittle incisors, more rugged occusal surfaces of molars, soft gingiva). Laminates with different shock absorbing and stress distributing (stiffness) capability may be one way to accommodate these factors.Studies comparing mouthguard users with nonusers have examined different sports, employed a variety of study designs and used widely-varying injury case definitions. Prior to the 1980s, most studies exhibited relatively low methodological quality. Despite these issues, meta-analyses indicated that the risk of an orofacial sports injury was 1.6-1.9 times higher when a mouthguard was not worn. However, the evidence that mouthguards protect against concussion was inconsistent, and no conclusion regarding the effectiveness of mouthguards in preventing concussion can be drawn at present. Mouthguards should continue to be used in sport activities where there is significant risk of orofacial injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Knapik
- US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5403, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Sport-related head injuries are a common clinical problem. Most head injuries in young athletes are mild traumatic brain injuries or concussions. The highest number of sport-related concussions has been reported in American football. In addition to the well described physical and psychosocial growth, there is ongoing neurocognitive development of the brain during childhood and through adolescence. This developmental process has direct implications in the assessment and management of head injuries in young athletes. Research on the management and long-term outcome following brain injuries in young athletes is limited. Traditionally, the assessment of concussion has been based on clinical history and physical and neurological examination. Increasingly, neuropsychological testing, especially computerised testing, is providing objective measures for the initial assessment and follow-up of young athletes following brain injuries. Numerous guidelines have been published for grading and return to play criteria following concussion; however, none of these have been prospectively validated by research and none are specifically applicable to children and adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dilip R Patel
- Primary Care Sports Medicine Program, Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if an athlete's capacity to perform exercise is impaired following concussion and whether this would be reflected by an altered heart rate response. METHODS Of the 14 concussed athletes, nine missed playing time as a direct result of their concussion and five did not. The concussed athletes performed an exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer within 72 hours of being asymptomatic at rest and a second test at 5 days following the previous assessment. Matched controls (n = 14) were tested using the same time line. The exercise protocol consisted of a 2 minute warm up, 10 minute, low-moderate intensity, steady state exercise session, and a high intensity interval protocol. The interval protocol consisted of a 40 second high intensity bout, followed by a 40 second rest period. This protocol continued until the participant had reached volitional fatigue. RESULTS The number of exercise bouts completed was not significantly different from their matched controls. However, concussed athletes who missed playing time had a significantly higher heart rate during the steady state exercise session. During this same period, they also exhibited a greater rise in heart rate over time. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that exercise capacity is unaffected in concussed athletes who are asymptomatic at rest. However, their heart rate response to submaximal exercise is increased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Gall
- Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
McKeever CK, Schatz P. Current issues in the identification, assessment, and management of concussions in sports-related injuries. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 2003; 10:4-11. [PMID: 12734070 DOI: 10.1207/s15324826an1001_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The recent literature has focused on the need for appropriate identification, assessment, and management of sports-related concussion. This article addresses current issues in the prevalence and assessment of sports-related concussion. Despite a paucity of research on female athletes and youth athletes, there is evidence that female athletes are at higher risk for injury than males and that concussions may affect children and young adolescents differently than older adolescents and adults. Sideline, baseline, and postconcussion assessments have become prevalent in documenting preinjury and postinjury performance, tracking recovery rates, and assisting return-to-play decisions. New computerized assessment procedures are growing in popularity and use. Future directions in the assessment and management of sports-related concussion include increased research on prevalence rates and effects of concussions for females and youth athletes, educating parents of youth athletes as well as family physicians on the importance of baseline and postconcussion cognitive assessments, and further validation of computerized assessment measures.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
The continued development of the sport environment as a laboratory for clinical investigation of mild head injury has greatly advanced the use of neuropsychological assessment in evaluating brain-injured athletes, and tracking their symptoms and recovery in an objective manner. The use of neurocognitive baseline measures has become critical in determining whether a brain-injured athlete has recovered function sufficiently to return to play. The rapid growth of computerized and web-based neurocognitive assessment measures provides an efficient, valid technology to put such testing within the reach of most institutions and organizations that field sport teams. Moreover, the knowledge of the recovery curve following mild head injury in the sport environment can be generalized to the management of MTBI in general clinical environments where baseline measures are unlikely. What we know today is that sideline assessments of severity are not predictive of which athletes will show the most typical 5- to 10-day recovery period and which will report persistent PCS complaints and exhibit impaired neurocognitive performance for an extended time. The research on mechanisms of brain injury in MTBI suggests that unpredictable, diffuse white-matter damage may control much of the variability in functional impairments and recovery duration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank M Webbe
- School of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|