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Zimmerman KA, Hain JA, Graham NSN, Rooney EJ, Lee Y, Del-Giovane M, Parker TD, Friedland D, Cross MJ, Kemp S, Wilson MG, Sylvester RJ, Sharp DJ. Prospective cohort study of long-term neurological outcomes in retired elite athletes: the Advanced BiomaRker, Advanced Imaging and Neurocognitive (BRAIN) Health Study protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e082902. [PMID: 38663922 PMCID: PMC11043776 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although limited, recent research suggests that contact sport participation might have an adverse long-term effect on brain health. Further work is required to determine whether this includes an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and/or subsequent changes in cognition and behaviour. The Advanced BiomaRker, Advanced Imaging and Neurocognitive Health Study will prospectively examine the neurological, psychiatric, psychological and general health of retired elite-level rugby union and association football/soccer players. METHODS AND ANALYSIS 400 retired athletes will be recruited (200 rugby union and 200 association football players, male and female). Athletes will undergo a detailed clinical assessment, advanced neuroimaging, blood testing for a range of brain health outcomes and neuropsychological assessment longitudinally. Follow-up assessments will be completed at 2 and 4 years after baseline visit. 60 healthy volunteers will be recruited and undergo an aligned assessment protocol including advanced neuroimaging, blood testing and neuropsychological assessment. We will describe the previous exposure to head injuries across the cohort and investigate relationships between biomarkers of brain injury and clinical outcomes including cognitive performance, clinical diagnoses and psychiatric symptom burden. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Relevant ethical approvals have been granted by the Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 17/LO/2066). The study findings will be disseminated through manuscripts in clinical/academic journals, presentations at professional conferences and through participant and stakeholder communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl A Zimmerman
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jessica A Hain
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Neil S N Graham
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Erin Jane Rooney
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), University College London, London, UK
| | - Ying Lee
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), University College London, London, UK
| | - Martina Del-Giovane
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas D Parker
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, The Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Daniel Friedland
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthew J Cross
- Carnegie Applied Rugby Research Centre, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
- Premiership Rugby, London, UK
| | - Simon Kemp
- Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, UK
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mathew G Wilson
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), University College London, London, UK
- HCA Healthcare Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Richard J Sylvester
- Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), University College London, London, UK
- Acute Stroke and Brain Injury Unit, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - David J Sharp
- Centre for Care, Research and Technology, UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Stewart W, Buckland ME, Abdolmohammadi B, Affleck AJ, Alvarez VE, Gilchrist S, Huber BR, Lee EB, Lyall DM, Nowinski CJ, Russell ER, Stein TD, Suter CM, McKee AC. Risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in rugby union is associated with length of playing career. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:829-832. [PMID: 37872234 PMCID: PMC10627955 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William Stewart
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK.
| | - Michael E Buckland
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Bobak Abdolmohammadi
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Andrew J Affleck
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Shannon Gilchrist
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Bertrand R Huber
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Donald M Lyall
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Christopher J Nowinski
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Emma R Russell
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Thor D Stein
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
| | - Catherine M Suter
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ann C McKee
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
- US Department of Veteran Affairs, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, 01730, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
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Parker TD, Zimmerman KA, Laverse E, Bourke NJ, Graham NSN, Mallas EJ, Heslegrave A, Zetterberg H, Kemp S, Morris HR, Sharp DJ. Active elite rugby participation is associated with altered precentral cortical thickness. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad257. [PMID: 38025272 PMCID: PMC10667029 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing concern that elite rugby participation may negatively influence brain health, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Cortical thickness is a widely applied biomarker of grey matter structure, but there is limited research into how it may be altered in active professional rugby players. Cross-sectional MRI data from 44 active elite rugby players, including 21 assessed within 1 week of head injury, and 47 healthy controls were analysed. We investigated how active elite rugby participation with and without sub-acute traumatic brain injury influenced grey matter structure using whole cortex and region of interest cortical thickness analyses. Relationships between cortical thickness and biomarkers of traumatic brain injury, including fractional anisotropy, plasma neurofilament light and glial fibrillary acidic protein, were also examined. In whole-cortex analyses, precentral cortical thickness in the right hemisphere was lower in rugby players compared with controls, which was due to reductions in non-injured players. Post hoc region of interest analyses showed non-injured rugby players had reduced cortical thickness in the inferior precentral sulcal thickness bilaterally (P = 0.005) and the left central sulcus (P = 0.037) relative to controls. In contrast, players in the sub-acute phase of mild traumatic brain injury had higher inferior precentral sulcal cortical thickness in the right hemisphere (P = 0.015). Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker of astrocyte activation, was positively associated with right inferior precentral sulcal cortical thickness in injured rugby players (P = 0.0012). Elite rugby participation is associated with localized alterations in cortical thickness, specifically in sulcal motor regions. Sub-acute changes after mild traumatic brain injury are associated with evidence of astrocytic activation. The combination of cortical thickness and glial fibrillary acidic protein may be useful in understanding the pathophysiological relationship between sporting head injury and brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Parker
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Dementia Research Institute Care, Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Karl A Zimmerman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Dementia Research Institute Care, Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | | | - Niall J Bourke
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Neil S N Graham
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Dementia Research Institute Care, Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Emma-Jane Mallas
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Dementia Research Institute Care, Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UKDRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UKDRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, 431 41, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, 413 45, Sweden
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
| | - Simon Kemp
- Rugby Football Union, Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7BA, UK
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Huw R Morris
- UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - David J Sharp
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Dementia Research Institute Care, Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
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4
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McKee AC, Mez J, Abdolmohammadi B, Butler M, Huber BR, Uretsky M, Babcock K, Cherry JD, Alvarez VE, Martin B, Tripodis Y, Palmisano JN, Cormier KA, Kubilus CA, Nicks R, Kirsch D, Mahar I, McHale L, Nowinski C, Cantu RC, Stern RA, Daneshvar D, Goldstein LE, Katz DI, Kowall NW, Dwyer B, Stein TD, Alosco ML. Neuropathologic and Clinical Findings in Young Contact Sport Athletes Exposed to Repetitive Head Impacts. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:1037-1050. [PMID: 37639244 PMCID: PMC10463175 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Importance Young contact sport athletes may be at risk for long-term neuropathologic disorders, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Objective To characterize the neuropathologic and clinical symptoms of young brain donors who were contact sport athletes. Design, Setting, and Participants This case series analyzes findings from 152 of 156 brain donors younger than 30 years identified through the Understanding Neurologic Injury and Traumatic Encephalopathy (UNITE) Brain Bank who donated their brains from February 1, 2008, to September 31, 2022. Neuropathologic evaluations, retrospective telephone clinical assessments, and online questionnaires with informants were performed blinded. Data analysis was conducted between August 2021 and June 2023. Exposures Repetitive head impacts from contact sports. Main Outcomes and Measures Gross and microscopic neuropathologic assessment, including diagnosis of CTE, based on defined diagnostic criteria; and informant-reported athletic history and informant-completed scales that assess cognitive symptoms, mood disturbances, and neurobehavioral dysregulation. Results Among the 152 deceased contact sports participants (mean [SD] age, 22.97 [4.31] years; 141 [92.8%] male) included in the study, CTE was diagnosed in 63 (41.4%; median [IQR] age, 26 [24-27] years). Of the 63 brain donors diagnosed with CTE, 60 (95.2%) were diagnosed with mild CTE (stages I or II). Brain donors who had CTE were more likely to be older (mean difference, 3.92 years; 95% CI, 2.74-5.10 years) Of the 63 athletes with CTE, 45 (71.4%) were men who played amateur sports, including American football, ice hockey, soccer, rugby, and wrestling; 1 woman with CTE played collegiate soccer. For those who played football, duration of playing career was significantly longer in those with vs without CTE (mean difference, 2.81 years; 95% CI, 1.15-4.48 years). Athletes with CTE had more ventricular dilatation, cavum septum pellucidum, thalamic notching, and perivascular pigment-laden macrophages in the frontal white matter than those without CTE. Cognitive and neurobehavioral symptoms were frequent among all brain donors. Suicide was the most common cause of death, followed by unintentional overdose; there were no differences in cause of death or clinical symptoms based on CTE status. Conclusions and Relevance This case series found that young brain donors exposed to repetitive head impacts were highly symptomatic regardless of CTE status, and the causes of symptoms in this sample are likely multifactorial. Future studies that include young brain donors unexposed to repetitive head impacts are needed to clarify the association among exposure, white matter and microvascular pathologic findings, CTE, and clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann C. McKee
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bobak Abdolmohammadi
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Morgane Butler
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bertrand Russell Huber
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Madeline Uretsky
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Katharine Babcock
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan D. Cherry
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victor E. Alvarez
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Brett Martin
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph N. Palmisano
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kerry A. Cormier
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Caroline A. Kubilus
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Raymond Nicks
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Kirsch
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ian Mahar
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lisa McHale
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christopher Nowinski
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert C. Cantu
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel Daneshvar
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lee E. Goldstein
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biomedical, Electrical, and Computer Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas I. Katz
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, Massachusetts
| | - Neil W. Kowall
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brigid Dwyer
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree, Massachusetts
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L. Alosco
- Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
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Campos-Pires R, Ong BE, Koziakova M, Ujvari E, Fuller I, Boyles C, Sun V, Ko A, Pap D, Lee M, Gomes L, Gallagher K, Mahoney PF, Dickinson R. Repetitive, but Not Single, Mild Blast TBI Causes Persistent Neurological Impairments and Selective Cortical Neuronal Loss in Rats. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1298. [PMID: 37759899 PMCID: PMC10526452 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13091298] [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] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to repeated mild blast traumatic brain injury (mbTBI) is common in combat soldiers and the training of Special Forces. Evidence suggests that repeated exposure to a mild or subthreshold blast can cause serious and long-lasting impairments, but the mechanisms causing these symptoms are unclear. In this study, we characterise the effects of single and tightly coupled repeated mbTBI in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to shockwaves generated using a shock tube. The primary outcomes are functional neurologic function (unconsciousness, neuroscore, weight loss, and RotaRod performance) and neuronal density in brain regions associated with sensorimotor function. Exposure to a single shockwave does not result in functional impairments or histologic injury, which is consistent with a mild or subthreshold injury. In contrast, exposure to three tightly coupled shockwaves results in unconsciousness, along with persistent neurologic impairments. Significant neuronal loss following repeated blast was observed in the motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, auditory cortex, and amygdala. Neuronal loss was not accompanied by changes in astrocyte reactivity. Our study identifies specific brain regions particularly sensitive to repeated mbTBI. The reasons for this sensitivity may include exposure to less attenuated shockwaves or proximity to tissue density transitions, and this merits further investigation. Our novel model will be useful in elucidating the mechanisms of sensitisation to injury, the temporal window of sensitivity and the evaluation of new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Campos-Pires
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Bee Eng Ong
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mariia Koziakova
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eszter Ujvari
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Isobel Fuller
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Charlotte Boyles
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Valerie Sun
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Andy Ko
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Daniel Pap
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Matthew Lee
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Lauren Gomes
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kate Gallagher
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Peter F. Mahoney
- Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Robert Dickinson
- Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care Division, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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6
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Owens TS, Marley CJ, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Fall L, Tsukamoto H, Iannetelli A, Filipponi T, Davies B, Jones GL, Hirtz C, Lehmann S, Tuaillon E, Marchi N, Bailey DM. Lower systemic nitric oxide bioactivity, cerebral hypoperfusion and accelerated cognitive decline in formerly concussed retired rugby union players. Exp Physiol 2023; 108:1029-1046. [PMID: 37423736 PMCID: PMC10988504 DOI: 10.1113/ep091195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? What are the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive biomarkers of retired rugby union players with concussion history? What is the main finding and its importance? Retired rugby players compared with matched controls exhibited lower systemic nitric oxide bioavailability accompanied by lower middle cerebral artery velocity and mild cognitive impairment. Retired rugby players are more susceptible to accelerated cognitive decline. ABSTRACT Following retirement from sport, the chronic consequences of prior-recurrent contact are evident and retired rugby union players may be especially prone to accelerated cognitive decline. The present study sought to integrate molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive biomarkers in retired rugby players with concussion history. Twenty retired rugby players aged 64 ± 5 years with three (interquartile range (IQR), 3) concussions incurred over 22 (IQR, 6) years were compared to 21 sex-, age-, cardiorespiratory fitness- and education-matched controls with no prior concussion history. Concussion symptoms and severity were assessed using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool. Plasma/serum nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence), neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light-chain (ELISA and single molecule array) were assessed. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv, doppler ultrasound) and reactivity to hyper/hypocapnia (CVR CO 2 hyper ${\mathrm{CVR}}_{{\mathrm{CO}}_{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{hyper}}}$ /CVR CO 2 hypo ${\mathrm{CVR}}_{{\mathrm{CO}}_{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{hypo}}}$ ) were assessed. Cognition was determined using the Grooved Pegboard Test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Players exhibited persistent neurological symptoms of concussion (U = 109(41) , P = 0.007), with increased severity compared to controls (U = 77(41) , P < 0.001). Lower total NO bioactivity (U = 135(41) , P = 0.049) and lower basal MCAv were apparent in players (F2,39 = 9.344, P = 0.004). This was accompanied by mild cognitive impairment (P = 0.020, 95% CI, -3.95 to -0.34), including impaired fine-motor coordination (U = 141(41) , P = 0.021). Retired rugby union players with history of multiple concussions may be characterised by impaired molecular, cerebral haemodynamic and cognitive function compared to non-concussed, non-contact controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S. Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Christopher J. Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Thomas A. Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Benjamin S. Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Lewis Fall
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and ScienceUniversity of South WalesUK
| | | | - Angelo Iannetelli
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Teresa Filipponi
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Bruce Davies
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Gareth L. Jones
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- LBPC‐PPCUniversity of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine‐Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- LBPC‐PPCUniversity of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine‐Biotherapy IRMB, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, INSERMMontpellierFrance
| | - Edouard Tuaillon
- CHU Montpellier, Department of Bacteriology‐VirologyCentre University ofMontpellierFrance
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of NeuroscienceInstitute of Functional Genomics (University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM)MontpellierFrance
| | - Damian M. Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and EducationUniversity of South WalesUK
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7
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Mavroudis I, Balmus IM, Ciobica A, Luca AC, Gorgan DL, Dobrin I, Gurzu IL. A Review of the Most Recent Clinical and Neuropathological Criteria for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:1689. [PMID: 37372807 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11121689] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a complex pathological condition characterized by neurodegeneration, as a result of repeated head traumas. Currently, the diagnosis of CTE can only be assumed postmortem. Thus, the clinical manifestations associated with CTE are referred to as traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES), for which diagnostic multiple sets of criteria can be used. (2) Objectives: In this study, we aimed to present and discuss the limitations of the clinical and neuropathological diagnostic criteria for TES/CTE and to suggest a diagnostic algorithm enabling a more accurate diagnostic procedure. (3) Results: The most common diagnostic criteria for TES/CTE discriminate between possible, probable, and improbable. However, several key variations between the available diagnostic criteria suggest that the diagnosis of CTE can still only be given with postmortem neurophysiological examination. Thus, a TES/CTE diagnosis during life imposes a different level of certainty. Here, we are proposing a comprehensive algorithm of diagnosis criteria for TES/CTE based on the similarities and differences between the previous criteria. (4) Conclusions: The diagnosis of TES/CTE requires a multidisciplinary approach; thorough investigation for other neurodegenerative disorders, systemic illnesses, and/or psychiatric conditions that can account for the symptoms; and also complex investigations of patient history, psychiatric assessment, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Mavroudis
- Department of Neurology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Leeds University, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Ioana-Miruna Balmus
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Alexandru Lapusneanu Street, No. 26, 700057 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alin Ciobica
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, B dul Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alina-Costina Luca
- Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Dragos Lucian Gorgan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, B dul Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Dobrin
- Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Luciana Gurzu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinarity, Discipline of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
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8
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Lee EB, Kennedy-Dietrich C, Geddes JF, Nicoll JAR, Revesz T, Smith DH, Stewart W. The perils of contact sport: pathologies of diffuse brain swelling and chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change in a 23-year-old rugby union player. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:847-850. [PMID: 37086326 PMCID: PMC10175208 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02576-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward B Lee
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | | | | | - James A R Nicoll
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Tamas Revesz
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William Stewart
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK.
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9
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McKee AC, Stein TD, Huber BR, Crary JF, Bieniek K, Dickson D, Alvarez VE, Cherry JD, Farrell K, Butler M, Uretsky M, Abdolmohammadi B, Alosco ML, Tripodis Y, Mez J, Daneshvar DH. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): criteria for neuropathological diagnosis and relationship to repetitive head impacts. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:371-394. [PMID: 36759368 PMCID: PMC10020327 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02540-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 17 years, there has been a remarkable increase in scientific research concerning chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Since the publication of NINDS-NIBIB criteria for the neuropathological diagnosis of CTE in 2016, and diagnostic refinements in 2021, hundreds of contact sport athletes and others have been diagnosed at postmortem examination with CTE. CTE has been reported in amateur and professional athletes, including a bull rider, boxers, wrestlers, and American, Canadian, and Australian rules football, rugby union, rugby league, soccer, and ice hockey players. The pathology of CTE is unique, characterized by a pathognomonic lesion consisting of a perivascular accumulation of neuronal phosphorylated tau (p-tau) variably alongside astrocytic aggregates at the depths of the cortical sulci, and a distinctive molecular structural configuration of p-tau fibrils that is unlike the changes observed with aging, Alzheimer's disease, or any other tauopathy. Computational 3-D and finite element models predict the perivascular and sulcal location of p-tau pathology as these brain regions undergo the greatest mechanical deformation during head impact injury. Presently, CTE can be definitively diagnosed only by postmortem neuropathological examination; the corresponding clinical condition is known as traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES). Over 97% of CTE cases published have been reported in individuals with known exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI), including concussions and nonconcussive impacts, most often experienced through participation in contact sports. While some suggest there is uncertainty whether a causal relationship exists between RHI and CTE, the preponderance of the evidence suggests a high likelihood of a causal relationship, a conclusion that is strengthened by the absence of any evidence for plausible alternative hypotheses. There is a robust dose-response relationship between CTE and years of American football play, a relationship that remains consistent even when rigorously accounting for selection bias. Furthermore, a recent study suggests that selection bias underestimates the observed risk. Here, we present the advances in the neuropathological diagnosis of CTE culminating with the development of the NINDS-NIBIB criteria, the multiple international studies that have used these criteria to report CTE in hundreds of contact sports players and others, and the evidence for a robust dose-response relationship between RHI and CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann C McKee
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA.
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA.
| | - Thor D Stein
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Bertrand R Huber
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research Core, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin Bieniek
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Dennis Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cherry
- VA Boston Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research Core, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgane Butler
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Madeline Uretsky
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Bobak Abdolmohammadi
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Daneshvar
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and CTE Centers, Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 S Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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10
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Naeser MA, Martin PI, Ho MD, Krengel MH, Bogdanova Y, Knight JA, Hamblin MR, Fedoruk AE, Poole LG, Cheng C, Koo B. Transcranial Photobiomodulation Treatment: Significant Improvements in Four Ex-Football Players with Possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2023; 7:77-105. [PMID: 36777329 PMCID: PMC9912826 DOI: 10.3233/adr-220022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, diagnosed postmortem (hyperphosphorylated tau), is preceded by traumatic encephalopathy syndrome with worsening cognition and behavior/mood disturbances, over years. Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) may promote improvements by increasing ATP in compromised/stressed cells and increasing local blood, lymphatic vessel vasodilation. Objective Aim 1: Examine cognition, behavior/mood changes Post-tPBM. Aim 2: MRI changes - resting-state functional-connectivity MRI: salience, central executive, default mode networks (SN, CEN, DMN); magnetic resonance spectroscopy, cingulate cortex. Methods Four ex-players with traumatic encephalopathy syndrome/possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy, playing 11- 16 years, received In-office, red/near-infrared tPBM to scalp, 3x/week for 6 weeks. Two had cavum septum pellucidum. Results The three younger cases (ages 55, 57, 65) improved 2 SD (p < 0.05) on three to six neuropsychological tests/subtests at 1 week or 1 month Post-tPBM, compared to Pre-Treatment, while the older case (age 74) improved by 1.5 SD on three tests. There was significant improvement at 1 month on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, pain, and sleep. One case discontinued narcotic pain medications and had reduced tinnitus. The possible placebo effect is unknown. At 2 months Post-tPBM, two cases regressed. Then, home tPBM was applied to only cortical nodes, DMN (12 weeks); again, significant improvements were seen. Significant correlations for increased SN functional connectivity (FC) over time, with executive function, attention, PTSD, pain, and sleep; and CEN FC, with verbal learning/memory, depression. Increased n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) (oxygen consumption, mitochondria) was present in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), parallel to less pain and PTSD. Conclusion After tPBM, these ex-football players improved. Significant correlations of increased SN FC and CEN FC with specific cognitive tests and behavior/mood ratings, plus increased NAA in ACC support beneficial effects from tPBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A. Naeser
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA,Correspondence to: Margaret A. Naeser, PhD, VA Boston Healthcare System (12A), Jamaica Plain Campus, 150 So. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130 USA. E-mail:
| | - Paula I. Martin
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael D. Ho
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maxine H. Krengel
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yelena Bogdanova
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Knight
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA,National Center for PTSD - Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa,Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Luke G. Poole
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus, Boston, MA, USA
| | - ChiaHsin Cheng
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Bio-imaging Informatics Lab, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - BangBon Koo
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Bio-imaging Informatics Lab, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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van Tonder R, Starling L, Surmon S, Viviers P, Kraak W, Boer PH, Jordaan E, Hendricks S, Stokes KA, Derman W, Brown JC. Tackling sport-related concussion: effectiveness of lowering the maximum legal height of the tackle in amateur male rugby - a cross-sectional analytical study. Inj Prev 2023; 29:56-61. [PMID: 36600566 PMCID: PMC9887377 DOI: 10.1136/ip-2022-044714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Rugby union ('rugby') is popular globally, with most of its participants being amateur. Concern regarding sport-related concussion (SRC) sustained during rugby is increasing. SRC occurs most frequently in the tackle, yet few interventions have aimed to mitigate this risk factor. This study investigated the influence of a lowered legal tackle height on SRC incidence in amateur rugby. DESIGN Cross-sectional analytical study: 2018 (control-standard tackle height) and 2019 (intervention-lowered legal tackle height) seasons. SETTING South African collegiate student rugby competition. PARTICIPANTS Between 800 and 900 male amateur student players (age: 20±1.6 years) in each year. INTERVENTION Maximum legal tackle height lowered from line of the shoulder on the ball carrier to the line of the armpit. OUTCOME MEASURES Number of overall (medical attention) and time-loss (≥1 day lost) injuries, head injuries and SRCs in 2018 and 2019 (dependent variables); events associated with injury incidents (independent variables). RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in incidences of time-loss injuries (IRR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.6 to 1.1; p=0.13), head injuries (IRR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.3; p=0.42) and SRC (IRR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.4 to 1.2; p=0.20). In 2018 and 2019, most time-loss head injuries (57%, n=43) and SRCs (55%, n=26) occurred during the tackle. CONCLUSIONS Despite a trend towards reducing injuries, head injuries and SRC, lowering maximum legal tackle height to armpit level did not change SRC incidence in this amateur male rugby cohort. Most time-loss head injuries and SRCs occurred during the tackle. Further tackle-related interventions to reduce SRC incidence require investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riaan van Tonder
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa .,IOC Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Sean Surmon
- Maties Sport, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pierre Viviers
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa,Campus Health Service, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Wilbur Kraak
- Division of Sport Science, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pieter-Henk Boer
- Department of Human Movement Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Wellington, South Africa
| | - Esme Jordaan
- Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa,Statistics and Population Studies Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sharief Hendricks
- Division of Physiological Sciences and Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa,Carnegie Applied Rugby Research (CARR) Centre, Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Keith A Stokes
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK,Medical Services, Rugby Football Union, London, UK
| | - Wayne Derman
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa,IOC Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - James Craig Brown
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa,IOC Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
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12
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Juan SMA, Daglas M, Gunn AP, Lago L, Adlard PA. Characterization of the spatial distribution of metals and profile of metalloprotein complexes in a mouse model of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. METALLOMICS : INTEGRATED BIOMETAL SCIENCE 2022; 14:6865363. [PMID: 36460052 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Metal dyshomeostasis is a well-established consequence of neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injury. While the significance of metals continues to be uncovered in many neurological disorders, their implication in repetitive mild traumatic brain injury remains uncharted. To address this gap, we characterized the spatial distribution of metal levels (iron, zinc, and copper) using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, the profile of metal-binding proteins via size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and the expression of the major iron storing protein ferritin via western blotting. Using a mouse model of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, 3-month-old male and female C57Bl6 mice received one or five impacts (48 h apart). At 1 month following 5× TBI (traumatic brain injury), iron and ferritin levels were significantly elevated in the contralateral cortex. There was a trend toward increased iron levels in the entire contralateral hemisphere and a reduction in contralateral cortical iron-binding proteins following 1× TBI. No major changes in zinc levels were seen in both hemispheres following 5× or 1× TBI, although there was a reduction in ipsilateral zinc-binding proteins following 5× TBI and a contralateral increase in zinc-binding proteins following 1× TBI. Copper levels were significantly increased in both hemispheres following 5× TBI, without changes in copper-binding proteins. This study shows for the first time that repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI) leads to metal dyshomeostasis, highlighting its potential involvement in promoting neurodegeneration, which provides a rationale for examining the benefit of metal-targeting drugs, which have shown promising results in neurodegenerative conditions and single TBI, but have yet to be tested following r-mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney M A Juan
- Synaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Maria Daglas
- Synaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Adam P Gunn
- Neuropathology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
| | - Larissa Lago
- Synaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul A Adlard
- Synaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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13
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Russell ER, Mackay DF, Lyall D, Stewart K, MacLean JA, Robson J, Pell JP, Stewart W. Neurodegenerative disease risk among former international rugby union players. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:1262-1268. [PMID: 36195436 PMCID: PMC9669247 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autopsy studies of former contact sports athletes, including soccer and rugby players, frequently report chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative pathology associated with traumatic brain injury. Nevertheless, little is known about the risk of neurodegenerative disease in these populations. We hypothesised that neurodegenerative disease risk would be higher among former elite rugby union players than the general population. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study accessing national electronic records on death certification, hospital admissions and dispensed prescriptions for a cohort of 412 male Scottish former international rugby union players and 1236 members of the general population, matched to former players by age, sex and area socioeconomic status. Mortality and incident neurodegenerative disease diagnoses among former rugby players were then compared with the matched comparison group. RESULTS Over a median 32 years follow-up from study entry at age 30 years, 121 (29.4%) former rugby players and 381 (30.8%) of the matched comparison group died. All-cause mortality was lower among former rugby players until 70 years of age with no difference thereafter. During follow-up, 47 (11.4%) former rugby players and 67 (5.4%) of the comparison group were diagnosed with incident neurodegenerative disease (HR 2.67, 95% CI 1.67 to 4.27, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study adds to our understanding of the association between contact sports participation and the risk of neurodegenerative disease. While further research exploring this interaction is required, in the meantime strategies to reduce exposure to head impacts and head injuries in sport should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R Russell
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel F Mackay
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Donald Lyall
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Katy Stewart
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Glasgow, UK.,Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - John A MacLean
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Glasgow, UK.,Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Jill P Pell
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - William Stewart
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK .,Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
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14
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Bellomo G, Piscopo P, Corbo M, Pupillo E, Stipa G, Beghi E, Vanacore N, Lacorte E. A systematic review on the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and neurocognitive disorders in professional and varsity athletes. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:6667-6691. [PMID: 35976476 PMCID: PMC9663371 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06319-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
The aim of this systematic review (SR) was to gather all available epidemiological evidence on former participation in any type of sport, at a professional and varsity level, as a potential risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and neurocognitive disorders (NCDs).
Design
Systematic searches were performed on PubMed, the Cochrane databases, and the ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Included studies were assessed using the NOS checklist.
Eligibility criteria for selecting studies
All epidemiological studies reporting data on the possible association between a clinical diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND), dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Parkinson’s disease (PD), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at any stage and with any clinical pattern and the former participation in any types of sport at a varsity and professional level were included.
Results
Data from the 17 included studies showed a higher frequency of NDs and NCDs in former soccer and American football players. Updating the previous SR confirmed a higher frequency of ALS/MND in former soccer players. Data reported a significantly higher risk of dementia/AD in former soccer players, and of MCI in former American football players. Results also showed a significantly higher risk of PD in former soccer and American football players, and a significantly higher risk of CTE in former boxers and American football players.
Summary/conclusions
This SR confirmed a higher risk of NDs and NCDs in former professional/varsity athletes. However, the pathological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear, and further high-quality studies should be performed to clarify whether the association could be sport specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bellomo
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - P Piscopo
- Department of Neurosciences, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - M Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - E Pupillo
- Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - G Stipa
- Clinical Neurophysiology Division, Neuroscience Department, S. Maria University Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - E Beghi
- Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - N Vanacore
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - E Lacorte
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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15
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Batty GD, Kaprio J. Traumatic brain injury, collision sports participation, and neurodegenerative disorders: narrative power, scientific evidence, and litigation. J Epidemiol Community Health 2022; 76:jech-2022-219061. [PMID: 35940855 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2022-219061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G David Batty
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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16
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Nowinski CJ, Bureau SC, Buckland ME, Curtis MA, Daneshvar DH, Faull RLM, Grinberg LT, Hill-Yardin EL, Murray HC, Pearce AJ, Suter CM, White AJ, Finkel AM, Cantu RC. Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to Repetitive Head Impacts and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Front Neurol 2022; 13:938163. [PMID: 35937061 PMCID: PMC9355594 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.938163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with a history of repetitive head impacts (RHI). CTE was described in boxers as early as the 1920s and by the 1950s it was widely accepted that hits to the head caused some boxers to become "punch drunk." However, the recent discovery of CTE in American and Australian-rules football, soccer, rugby, ice hockey, and other sports has resulted in renewed debate on whether the relationship between RHI and CTE is causal. Identifying the strength of the evidential relationship between CTE and RHI has implications for public health and medico-legal issues. From a public health perspective, environmentally caused diseases can be mitigated or prevented. Medico-legally, millions of children are exposed to RHI through sports participation; this demographic is too young to legally consent to any potential long-term risks associated with this exposure. To better understand the strength of evidence underlying the possible causal relationship between RHI and CTE, we examined the medical literature through the Bradford Hill criteria for causation. The Bradford Hill criteria, first proposed in 1965 by Sir Austin Bradford Hill, provide a framework to determine if one can justifiably move from an observed association to a verdict of causation. The Bradford Hill criteria include nine viewpoints by which to evaluate human epidemiologic evidence to determine if causation can be deduced: strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment, and analogy. We explored the question of causation by evaluating studies on CTE as it relates to RHI exposure. Through this lens, we found convincing evidence of a causal relationship between RHI and CTE, as well as an absence of evidence-based alternative explanations. By organizing the CTE literature through this framework, we hope to advance the global conversation on CTE mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Nowinski
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Christopher J. Nowinski
| | | | - Michael E. Buckland
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Maurice A. Curtis
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Daniel H. Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Richard L. M. Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States,Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States,Department of Pathology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil,Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Elisa L. Hill-Yardin
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, STEM College, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia,Department of Anatomy & Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Helen C. Murray
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging and Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Alan J. Pearce
- College of Science, Health, and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine M. Suter
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia,School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam J. White
- Department of Sport, Health Science, and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom,Concussion Legacy Foundation UK, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
| | - Adam M. Finkel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Robert C. Cantu
- Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Neurosurgery, Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, United States
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17
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McCann H, Bahar AY, Burkhardt K, Gardner AJ, Halliday GM, Iverson GL, Shepherd CE. Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the Sydney Brain Bank. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac189. [PMID: 35950093 PMCID: PMC9356727 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem. It has been associated with repetitive mild neurotrauma sustained in amateur and professional contact, collision and combat sports, although it has also been documented in people with a single severe traumatic brain injury and in some people with no known history of brain injury. The characteristic neuropathology is an accumulation of perivascular neuronal and astrocytic phosphorylated tau in the depths of the cortical sulci. The tau-immunopositive neurons and astrocytes that are considered pathognomonic for chronic traumatic encephalopathy are morphologically indistinguishable from Alzheimer-related neurofibrillary tangles and ageing-related tau astrogliopathy, respectively, although they are found in different spatial distributions throughout the cortex. The Sydney Brain Bank collection consists of neurodegenerative diseases and neurologically normal controls. We screened 636 of these cases for chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change. A subset of 109 cases had a known history of traumatic brain injury. Three cortical regions were screened for the presence of neuronal and astrocytic phosphorylated tau according to the current 2021 National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering consensus criteria for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Five cases (0.79%) showed pathological evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and three of these had a history of traumatic brain injury. Three cases had coexisting Alzheimer’s and/or Lewy body disease pathology meeting criteria for neurodegenerative disease. Another eight cases almost met criteria for chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathological change except for an absence of neuronal tau or a strict perivascular arrangement. Ageing-related tau astrogliopathy was found in all eight cases as a coexisting neuropathology. Traumatic brain injury was associated with increased odds ratio [1.79, confidence interval 1.18–2.72] of having a higher neurofibrillary tangle stage and phosphorylated TAR DNA binding protein 43 (OR 2.48, confidence interval 1.35–4.54). Our study shows a very low rate of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathological change in brains with or without neurodegenerative disease from the Sydney Brain Bank. Our evidence suggests that isolated traumatic brain injury in the general population is unlikely to cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change but may be associated with increased brain ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather McCann
- Neuroscience Research Australia , Randwick, NSW 2031 , Australia
| | - Anita Y Bahar
- Neuroscience Research Australia , Randwick, NSW 2031 , Australia
| | - Karim Burkhardt
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - Andrew J Gardner
- School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle , Callaghan, NSW 2308 , Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Neuroscience Research Australia , Randwick, NSW 2031 , Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre , Camperdown, NSW 2050 , Australia
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA 02114 , USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital , Charlestown, MA 02114 , USA
- Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program , Charlestown, MA 02114 , USA
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program , Boston, MA 02114 , USA
| | - Claire E Shepherd
- Neuroscience Research Australia , Randwick, NSW 2031 , Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales , Kensington, NSW 2052 , Australia
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18
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Powell D, Stuart S, Godfrey A. Exploring Inertial-Based Wearable Technologies for Objective Monitoring in Sports-Related Concussion: A Single-Participant Report. Phys Ther 2022; 102:6534728. [PMID: 35196371 PMCID: PMC9155164 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzac016] [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: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Challenges remain in sports-related concussion (SRC) assessment to better inform return to play. Reliance on self-reported symptoms within the Sports Concussion Assessment Tool means that there are limited data on the effectiveness of novel methods to assess a player's readiness to return to play. Digital methods such as wearable technologies may augment traditional SRC assessment and improve objectivity in making decisions regarding return to play. METHODS The participant was a male university athlete who had a recent history of SRC. The single-participant design consisted of baseline laboratory testing immediately after SRC, free-living monitoring, and follow-up supervised testing after 2 months. The primary outcome measures were from traditional assessment (eg, Sports Concussion Assessment Tool and 2-minute instrumented walk/gait test; secondary outcome measures were from remote (free-living) assessment with a single wearable inertial measurement unit (eg, for gait and sleep). RESULTS The university athlete (age = 20 years, height = 175 cm, weight = 77 kg [176.37 lb]) recovered and returned to play 20 days after SRC. Primary measures returned to baseline levels after 12 days. However, supervised (laboratory-based) wearable device assessment showed that gait impairments (increased step time) remained even after the athlete was cleared for return to play (2 months). Similarly, a 24-hour remote gait assessment showed changes in step time, step time variability, and step time asymmetry immediately after SRC and at return to play (1 month after SRC). Remote sleep analysis showed differences in sleep quality and disturbance (increased movement between immediately after SRC and once the athlete had returned to play [1 month after SRC]). CONCLUSION The concern about missed or delayed SRC diagnosis is growing, but methods to objectively monitor return to play after concussion are still lacking. This report showed that wearable device assessment offers additional objective data for use in monitoring players who have SRC. This work could better inform SRC assessment and return-to-play protocols. IMPACT Digital technologies such as wearable technologies can yield additional data that traditional self-report approaches cannot. Combining data from nondigital (traditional) and digital (wearable) methods may augment SRC assessment for improved return-to-play decisions. LAY SUMMARY Inertia-based wearable technologies (eg, accelerometers) may be useful to help augment traditional, self-report approaches to sports-related concussion assessment and management by better informing return-to-play protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Powell
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Stuart
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Godfrey
- Address all correspondence to Dr Godfrey to: ; Follow the author(s): @godfreybiomed; @PhysioPowell; @samstuart87
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19
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Powell D, Stuart S, Godfrey A. Wearables in rugby union: A protocol for multimodal digital sports-related concussion assessment. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261616. [PMID: 34936689 PMCID: PMC8694415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pragmatic challenges remain in the monitoring and return to play (RTP) decisions following suspected Sports Related Concussion (SRC). Reliance on traditional approaches (pen and paper) means players readiness for RTP is often based on self-reported symptom recognition as a marker for full physiological recovery. Non-digital approaches also limit opportunity for robust data analysis which may hinder understanding of the interconnected nature and relationships in deficit recovery. Digital approaches may provide more objectivity to measure and monitor impairments in SRC. Crucially, there is dearth of protocols for SRC assessment and digital devices have yet to be tested concurrently (multimodal) in SRC rugby union assessment. Here we propose a multimodal protocol for digital assessment in SRC, which could be used to enhance traditional sports concussion assessment approaches. Methods We aim to use a repeated measures observational study utilising a battery of multimodal assessment tools (symptom, cognitive, visual, motor). We aim to recruit 200 rugby players (male n≈100 and female n≈100) from University Rugby Union teams and local amateur rugby clubs in the North East of England. The multimodal battery assessment used in this study will compare metrics between digital methods and against traditional assessment. Conclusion This paper outlines a protocol for a multimodal approach for the use of digital technologies to augment traditional approaches to SRC, which may better inform RTP in rugby union. Findings may shed light on new ways of working with digital tools in SRC. Multimodal approaches may enhance understanding of the interconnected nature of impairments and provide insightful, more objective assessment and RTP in SRC. Clinical trial registration NCT04938570. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=NCT04938570&term=&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Powell
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Stuart
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Godfrey
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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20
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Chavarro-Nieto C, Beaven M, Gill N, Hébert-Losier K. Neck strength in Rugby Union players: a systematic review of the literature. PHYSICIAN SPORTSMED 2021; 49:392-409. [PMID: 33554689 DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2021.1886574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The incidence and severity of concussion injuries are increasing every year. Scientific evidence indicates that neck strength and girth could play a role in preventing head and neck injuries, or at least mitigating their severity. We aimed to examine the scientific literature addressing neck strength in Rugby Union with a focus on the potential role of neck strength on injury incidence, neck assessment protocols, neck strength measures, and neck strengthening exercises.We conducted a systematic search of the literature in January 2021 to locate published peer-reviewed articles from PubMed, SPORTDiscusTM, Web of Science®, and Scopus® e-databases. Overall, senior elite male players were stronger than younger-aged players. Forwards were stronger in extension than any other directions assessed, and were generally stronger and possessed larger necks and greater cross-sectional areas when compared to backs. Implementation of isometric exercise routines in professional players was reported to improve neck strength in all directions. There were no studies evaluating the incidence of concussion and neck strength or neck strengthening strategies in Rugby Union. Strengthening the neck continues to be one of the targeted modifiable risk factors with respect to limiting the severity and temporal effects of head injuries in Rugby Union, despite limited evidence regarding direct associations between neck strength and concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Chavarro-Nieto
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - Martyn Beaven
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
| | - Nicholas Gill
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand.,New Zealand Rugby, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Kim Hébert-Losier
- Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Tauranga, New Zealand
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21
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Gallo V, McElvenny DM, Seghezzo G, Kemp S, Williamson E, Lu K, Mian S, James L, Hobbs C, Davoren D, Arden N, Davies M, Malaspina A, Loosemore M, Stokes K, Cross M, Crutch S, Zetterberg H, Pearce N. Concussion and long-term cognitive function among rugby players-The BRAIN Study. Alzheimers Dement 2021; 18:1164-1176. [PMID: 34668650 PMCID: PMC9298292 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective The BRAIN Study was established to assess the associations between self‐reported concussions and cognitive function among retired rugby players. Methods Former elite‐level male rugby union players (50+ years) in England were recruited. Exposure to rugby‐related concussion was collected using the BRAIN‐Q tool. The primary outcome measure was the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (PACC). Linear regressions were conducted for the association between concussion and PACC score, adjusting for confounders. Results A total of 146 participants were recruited. The mean (standard deviation) length of playing career was 15.8 (5.4) years. A total of 79.5% reported rugby‐related concussion(s). No association was found between concussion and PACC (β –0.03 [95% confidence interval (CI): –1.31, 0.26]). However, participants aged 80+ years reporting 3+ concussions had worse cognitive function than those without concussion (β –1.04 [95% CI: –1.62, –0.47]). Conclusions Overall there was no association between concussion and cognitive function; however, a significant interaction with age revealed an association in older participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gallo
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Campus Fryslân, University of Groningen, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Damien M McElvenny
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Research Group, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Giulia Seghezzo
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - Simon Kemp
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Rugby Football Union, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth Williamson
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kirsty Lu
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Saba Mian
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Laura James
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK
| | - Catherine Hobbs
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Health for Keith Stokes and Madeleine Davies, Department of Psychology for Catherine Hobbs, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Donna Davoren
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nigel Arden
- Centre for Sport, Exercise & Osteoarthritis Research Versus Arthritis, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Madeline Davies
- Department of Health for Keith Stokes and Madeleine Davies, Department of Psychology for Catherine Hobbs, University of Bath, Bath, UK.,Centre for Sport, Exercise & Osteoarthritis Research Versus Arthritis, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Michael Loosemore
- Institute of Sport Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Keith Stokes
- Rugby Football Union, London, UK.,Department of Health for Keith Stokes and Madeleine Davies, Department of Psychology for Catherine Hobbs, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Matthew Cross
- Department of Health for Keith Stokes and Madeleine Davies, Department of Psychology for Catherine Hobbs, University of Bath, Bath, UK.,Premiership Rugby, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Crutch
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- UK Dementia Research Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Neil Pearce
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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22
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Owens TS, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Rose G, Fall L, Tsukamoto H, Jones G, Corkill R, Tuaillon E, Hirtz C, Lehmann S, Marchi N, Marley CJ, Bailey DM. Concussion history in rugby union players is associated with depressed cerebrovascular reactivity and cognition. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2021; 31:2291-2299. [PMID: 34487582 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent contact and concussion in rugby union remains a significant public health concern given the potential increased risk of neurodegeneration in later life. This study determined to what extent prior-recurrent contact impacts molecular-hemodynamic biomarkers underpinning cognition in current professional rugby union players with a history of concussion. Measurements were performed in 20 professional rugby union players with an average of 16 (interquartile range [IQR] 13-19) years playing history reporting 3 (IQR 1-4) concussions. They were compared to 17 sex-age-physical activity-and education-matched non-contact controls with no prior history of self-reported concussion. Venous blood was assayed directly for the ascorbate free radical (A•- electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) nitric oxide metabolites (NO reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence) and select biomarkers of neurovascular unit integrity (NVU chemiluminescence/ELISA). Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv doppler ultrasound) was employed to determine basal perfusion and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to hyper/hypocapnia ( CVR CO 2 Hyper / Hypo ). Cognition was assessed by neuropsychometric testing. Elevated systemic oxidative-nitrosative stress was confirmed in the players through increased A•- (p < 0.001) and suppression of NO bioavailability (p < 0.001). This was accompanied by a lower CVR range ( CVR CO 2 Range ; p = 0.045) elevation in neurofilament light-chain (p = 0.010) and frontotemporal impairments in immediate-memory (p = 0.001) delayed-recall (p = 0.048) and fine-motor coordination (p < 0.001). Accelerated cognitive decline subsequent to prior-recurrent contact and concussion history is associated with a free radical-mediated suppression of CVR and neuronal injury providing important mechanistic insight that may help better inform clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Thomas A Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Benjamin S Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - George Rose
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Lewis Fall
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Hayato Tsukamoto
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.,Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Gareth Jones
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Robin Corkill
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Edouard Tuaillon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Hirtz
- University of Montpellier, CHU of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- University of Montpellier, CHU of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Laboratory of Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christopher J Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Damian M Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
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23
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Zimmerman KA, Laverse E, Samra R, Yanez Lopez M, Jolly AE, Bourke NJ, Graham NSN, Patel MC, Hardy J, Kemp S, Morris HR, Sharp DJ. White matter abnormalities in active elite adult rugby players. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab133. [PMID: 34435188 PMCID: PMC8381344 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The recognition, diagnosis and management of mild traumatic brain injuries are difficult and confusing. It is unclear how the severity and number of injuries sustained relate to brain injuries, such as diffuse axonal injury, diffuse vascular injury and progressive neurodegeneration. Advances in neuroimaging techniques enable the investigation of neuropathologies associated with acute and long-term effects of injury. Head injuries are the most commonly reported injury seen during professional rugby. There is increased vigilance for the immediate effects of these injuries in matches, but there has been surprisingly little research investigating the longer-term effects of rugby participation. Here, we present a longitudinal observational study investigating the relationship of exposure to rugby participation and sub-acute head injuries in professional adult male and female rugby union and league players using advanced MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging and susceptibility weighted imaging was used to assess white matter structure and evidence of axonal and diffuse vascular injury. We also studied changes in brain structure over time using Jacobian Determinant statistics extracted from serial volumetric imaging. We tested 41 male and 3 female adult elite rugby players, of whom 21 attended study visits after a head injury, alongside 32 non-sporting controls, 15 non-collision-sport athletic controls and 16 longitudinally assessed controls. Eighteen rugby players participated in the longitudinal arm of the study, with a second visit at least 6 months after their first scan. Neuroimaging evidence of either axonal injury or diffuse vascular injury was present in 23% (10/44) of players. In the non-acutely injured group of rugby players, abnormalities of fractional anisotropy and other diffusion measures were seen. In contrast, non-collision-sport athletic controls were not classified as showing abnormalities. A group level contrast also showed evidence of sub-acute injury using diffusion tensor imaging in rugby players. Examination of longitudinal imaging revealed unexpected reductions in white matter volume in the elite rugby players studied. These changes were not related to self-reported head injury history or neuropsychological test scores and might indicate excess neurodegeneration in white matter tracts affected by injury. Taken together, our findings suggest an association of participation in elite adult rugby with changes in brain structure. Further well-designed large-scale studies are needed to understand the impact of both repeated sports-related head impacts and head injuries on brain structure, and to clarify whether the abnormalities we have observed are related to an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and impaired neurocognitive function following elite rugby participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl A Zimmerman
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,Care Research & Technology Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Etienne Laverse
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Ravjeet Samra
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Maria Yanez Lopez
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Amy E Jolly
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,Care Research & Technology Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Niall J Bourke
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,Care Research & Technology Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Neil S N Graham
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,Care Research & Technology Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Maneesh C Patel
- Imaging Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, UK
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, Queen Square Genomics, UCL Dementia Research Institute, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Simon Kemp
- Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, London TW2 7BA, UK.,Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Huw R Morris
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK
| | - David J Sharp
- Computational, Cognitive and Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, Division of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.,Care Research & Technology Centre, UK Dementia Research Institute, London W12 0BZ, UK.,The Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London SW7 2AZ, UK
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24
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Owens TS, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Iannatelli A, Venables L, Rose G, Fall L, Tsukamoto H, Berg RMG, Jones GL, Marley CJ, Bailey DM. Contact events in rugby union and the link to reduced cognition: evidence for impaired redox-regulation of cerebrovascular function. Exp Physiol 2021; 106:1971-1980. [PMID: 34355451 DOI: 10.1113/ep089330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? How does recurrent contact incurred across a season of professional rugby union impact molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive function? What is the main findings and its importance? A single season of professional rugby union increases systemic oxidative-nitrosative stress (OXNOS) confirmed by a free radical-mediated suppression in nitric oxide bioavailability. Forwards encountered a higher frequency of contact events compared to backs, exhibiting elevated OXNOS and lower cerebrovascular function and cognition. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the possible cause of reduced cognition in rugby union subsequent to impairment in the redox regulation of cerebrovascular function. ABSTRACT Contact events in rugby union remain a public health concern. We determined the molecular, cerebrovascular and cognitive consequences of contact events during a season of professional rugby. Twenty-one male players aged 25 (mean) ± 4 (SD) years were recruited from a professional rugby team comprising forwards (n = 13) and backs (n = 8). Data were collected across the season. Pre- and post-season, venous blood was assayed for the ascorbate free radical (A•- , electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy) and nitric oxide (NO, reductive ozone-based chemiluminescence) to quantify oxidative-nitrosative stress (OXNOS). Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv, Doppler ultrasound) was measured to assess cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Notational analysis determined contact events over the season. Forwards incurred more collisions (Mean difference [MD ] 7.49; 95% CI, 2.58-12.40; P = 0.005), tackles (MD 3.49; 95% CI, 0.42-6.56; P = 0.028) and jackals (MD 2.21; 95% CI, 0.18-4.24; P = 0.034). Forwards suffered five concussions while backs suffered one concussion. An increase in systemic OXNOS, confirmed by elevated A•- (F2,19 = 10.589, P = 0.004) and corresponding suppression of NO bioavailability (F2,19 = 11.492, P = 0.003) was apparent in forwards and backs across the season. This was accompanied by a reduction in cerebral oxygen delivery ( c D O 2 , F2,19 = 9.440, P = 0.006) and cognition (F2,19 = 4.813, P = 0.041). Forwards exhibited a greater decline in the cerebrovascular reactivity range to changes in PETCO2 ( CV R C O 2 RANG compared to backs (MD 1.378; 95% CI, 0.74-2.02; P < 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Thomas A Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Benjamin S Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Angelo Iannatelli
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Lucy Venables
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - George Rose
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Lewis Fall
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Hayato Tsukamoto
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Ronan M G Berg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gareth L Jones
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Christopher J Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Damian M Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
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25
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Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S, Roshanravan B, Peivasteh-Roudsari L. Impact of Curcumin on Traumatic Brain Injury and Involved Molecular Signaling Pathways. Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric 2021; 11:137-144. [PMID: 31288732 DOI: 10.2174/2212798410666190617161523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide with no suitable treatment. The present study was designed to review the present literature about the protective effects of curcumin and the underlying mechanism against TBI. All published English language papers from beginning to 2019 were selected in this study. The findings indicate that curcumin may be effective against TBI outcomes by modulating the molecular signaling pathways involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. However, more experimental studies should be done to identify all mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of TBI. Patents for Curcumin and chronic inflammation and traumatic brain injury management (WO2017097805A1 and US9101580B2) were published. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the potential therapeutic impact of curcumin for treating TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Disease Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Babak Roshanravan
- Medical Student, Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Leila Peivasteh-Roudsari
- Devision of Food Safety and Hygiene, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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26
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Bieniek KF, Cairns NJ, Crary JF, Dickson DW, Folkerth RD, Keene CD, Litvan I, Perl DP, Stein TD, Vonsattel JP, Stewart W, Dams-O’Connor K, Gordon WA, Tripodis Y, Alvarez VE, Mez J, Alosco ML, McKee AC. The Second NINDS/NIBIB Consensus Meeting to Define Neuropathological Criteria for the Diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2021; 80:210-219. [PMID: 33611507 PMCID: PMC7899277 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with exposure to head trauma. In 2015, a panel of neuropathologists funded by the NINDS/NIBIB defined preliminary consensus neuropathological criteria for CTE, including the pathognomonic lesion of CTE as "an accumulation of abnormal hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurons and astroglia distributed around small blood vessels at the depths of cortical sulci and in an irregular pattern," based on review of 25 tauopathy cases. In 2016, the consensus panel met again to review and refine the preliminary criteria, with consideration around the minimum threshold for diagnosis and the reproducibility of a proposed pathological staging scheme. Eight neuropathologists evaluated 27 cases of tauopathies (17 CTE cases), blinded to clinical and demographic information. Generalized estimating equation analyses showed a statistically significant association between the raters and CTE diagnosis for both the blinded (OR = 72.11, 95% CI = 19.5-267.0) and unblinded rounds (OR = 256.91, 95% CI = 63.6-1558.6). Based on the challenges in assigning CTE stage, the panel proposed a working protocol including a minimum threshold for CTE diagnosis and an algorithm for the assessment of CTE severity as "Low CTE" or "High CTE" for use in future clinical, pathological, and molecular studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin F Bieniek
- Department of Pathology, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - John F Crary
- Departments of Pathology & Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai School, New York, New York
| | | | - Rebecca D Folkerth
- New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Irene Litvan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Daniel P Perl
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Thor D Stein
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Jean-Paul Vonsattel
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Glasgow Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kristen Dams-O’Connor
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology (KD-O), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Wayne A Gordon
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Victor E Alvarez
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Ann C McKee
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Alzheimer's Disease Center, CTE Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- William Stewart
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, and Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
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28
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Abstract
Due to the growing number of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) cases in the military and contact sports, defining the cellular and molecular substrate of this disorder is crucial. Most classic neuropathological investigations describe cortical tau and, to a lesser extent, amyloid lesions, which may underlie the clinical sequela associated with CTE. The application of modern molecular biologic technology to postmortem human brain tissue has made it possible to evaluate the genetic signature of specific neuronal phenotypes at different stages of CTE pathology. Most recently, molecular pathobiology has been used in the field of CTE, with an emphasis on the cholinergic neurons located within the nucleus basalis of Meynert, which develop tau pathology and are associated with cognitive dysfunction similar to that found in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Quantitative findings derived from single-cell transcript investigations provide clues to our understanding of the selective vulnerability of neurons containing AD-like tau pathology at different stages of CTE. Since human tissue-based studies provide a gold standard for the field of CTE, continued molecular pathological studies are needed to reveal novel drug targets for the treatment of this disorder.
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29
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Arena JD, Smith DH, Lee EB, Gibbons GS, Irwin DJ, Robinson JL, Lee VMY, Trojanowski JQ, Stewart W, Johnson VE. Tau immunophenotypes in chronic traumatic encephalopathy recapitulate those of ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2020; 143:1572-1587. [PMID: 32390044 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Preliminary consensus criteria define the pathognomonic lesion of CTE as patchy tau pathology within neurons and astrocytes at the depths of cortical sulci. However, the specific tau isoform composition and post-translational modifications in CTE remain largely unexplored. Using immunohistochemistry, we performed tau phenotyping of CTE neuropathologies and compared this to a range of tau pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease, primary age-related tauopathy, ageing-related tau astrogliopathy and multiple subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tau inclusions. Cases satisfying preliminary consensus diagnostic criteria for CTE neuropathological change (CTE-NC) were identified (athletes, n = 10; long-term survivors of moderate or severe TBI, n = 4) from the Glasgow TBI Archive and Penn Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank. In addition, material from a range of autopsy-proven ageing-associated and primary tauopathies in which there was no known history of exposure to TBI was selected as non-injured controls (n = 32). Each case was then stained with a panel of tau antibodies specific for phospho-epitopes (PHF1, CP13, AT100, pS262), microtubule-binding repeat domains (3R, 4R), truncation (Tau-C3) or conformation (GT-7, GT-38) and the extent and distribution of staining assessed. Cell types were confirmed with double immunofluorescent labelling. Results demonstrate that astroglial tau pathology in CTE is composed of 4R-immunoreactive thorn-shaped astrocytes, echoing the morphology and immunophenotype of astrocytes encountered in ageing-related tau astrogliopathy. In contrast, neurofibrillary tangles of CTE contain both 3R and 4R tau, with post-translational modifications and conformations consistent with Alzheimer's disease and primary age-related tauopathy. Our observations establish that the astroglial and neurofibrillary tau pathologies of CTE are phenotypically distinct from each other and recapitulate the tau immunophenotypes encountered in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. As such, the immunohistochemical distinction of CTE neuropathology from other mixed 3R/4R tauopathies of Alzheimer's disease and ageing may rest solely on the pattern and distribution of pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Arena
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.,Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Garrett S Gibbons
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John L Robinson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK.,Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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30
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Arena JD, Johnson VE, Lee EB, Gibbons GS, Smith DH, Trojanowski JQ, Stewart W. Astroglial tau pathology alone preferentially concentrates at sulcal depths in chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa210. [PMID: 33426528 PMCID: PMC7784042 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Current diagnostic criteria for the neuropathological evaluation of the traumatic brain injury-associated neurodegeneration, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, define the pathognomonic lesion as hyperphosphorylated tau-immunoreactive neuronal and astroglial profiles in a patchy cortical distribution, clustered around small vessels and showing preferential localization to the depths of sulci. However, despite adoption into diagnostic criteria, there has been no formal assessment of the cortical distribution of the specific cellular components defining chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change. To address this, we performed comprehensive mapping of hyperphosphorylated tau-immunoreactive neurofibrillary tangles and thorn-shaped astrocytes contributing to chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change. From the Glasgow Traumatic Brain Injury Archive and the University of Pennsylvania Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research Brain Bank, material was selected from patients with known chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change, either following exposure to repetitive mild (athletes n = 17; non-athletes n = 1) or to single moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (n = 4), together with material from patients with previously confirmed Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic changes (n = 6) and no known exposure to traumatic brain injury. Representative sections were stained for hyperphosphorylated or Alzheimer's disease conformation-selective tau, after which stereotypical neurofibrillary tangles and thorn-shaped astrocytes were identified and mapped. Thorn-shaped astrocytes in chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change were preferentially distributed towards sulcal depths [sulcal depth to gyral crest ratio of thorn-shaped astrocytes 12.84 ± 15.47 (mean ± standard deviation)], with this pathology more evident in material from patients with a history of survival from non-sport injury than those exposed to sport-associated traumatic brain injury (P = 0.009). In contrast, neurofibrillary tangles in chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change showed a more uniform distribution across the cortex in sections stained for either hyperphosphorylated (sulcal depth to gyral crest ratio of neurofibrillary tangles 1.40 ± 0.74) or Alzheimer's disease conformation tau (sulcal depth to gyral crest ratio 1.64 ± 1.05), which was comparable to that seen in material from patients with known Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic changes (P = 0.82 and P = 0.91, respectively). Our data demonstrate that in chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change the astroglial component alone shows preferential distribution to the depths of cortical sulci. In contrast, the neuronal pathology of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change is distributed more uniformly from gyral crest to sulcal depth and echoes that of Alzheimer's disease. These observations provide new insight into the neuropathological features of chronic traumatic encephalopathy that distinguish it from other tau pathologies and suggest that current diagnostic criteria should perhaps be reviewed and refined.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Arena
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Garrett S Gibbons
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK.,Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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31
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Russell ER, McCabe T, Mackay DF, Stewart K, MacLean JA, Pell JP, Stewart W. Mental health and suicide in former professional soccer players. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:1256-1260. [PMID: 32694163 PMCID: PMC8747033 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is growing recognition of an association between contact sports participation and increased risk of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. In addition to cognitive impairment, a range of mental health disorders and suicidality are proposed as diagnostic features of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, the putative clinical syndrome associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, to date, epidemiological data on contact sport participation and mental health outcomes are limited. METHODS For a cohort of former professional soccer players (n=7676) with known high neurodegenerative mortality and their matched general population controls (n=23 028), data on mental health outcomes were obtained by individual-level record linkage to national electronic records of hospital admissions and death certification. RESULTS Compared with matched population controls, former professional soccer players showed lower risk of hospital admission for anxiety and stress related disorders, depression, drug use disorders, alcohol use disorders and bipolar and affective mood disorders. Among soccer players, there was no significant difference in risk of hospitalisation for mental health disorders between outfield players and goalkeepers. There was no significant difference in rate of death by suicide between soccer players and controls. CONCLUSIONS Among a population of former professional soccer players with known high neurodegenerative disease mortality, hospital admissions for common mental health disorders were lower than population controls, with no difference in suicide. Our data provide support for the reappraisal of currently proposed diagnostic clinical criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, in particular the inclusion of mental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R Russell
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas McCabe
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel F Mackay
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Katy Stewart
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Park, Glasgow, UK
| | - John A MacLean
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Park, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jill P Pell
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - William Stewart
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK .,Department of Neuropathology, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK
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Chiasseu M, Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Saito T, Saido TC, Strittmatter SM. Gene-environment interaction promotes Alzheimer's risk as revealed by synergy of repeated mild traumatic brain injury and mouse App knock-in. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 145:105059. [PMID: 32858147 PMCID: PMC7572902 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a strong unmet need for translational progress towards Alzheimer's disease (AD) modifying therapy. Unfortunately, preclinical modeling of the disease has been disappointing, relying primarily on transgenic mouse overexpression of rare dominant mutations. Clinical manifestation of AD symptoms is known to reflect interaction between environmental and genetic risks. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an environmental risk for dementia, including Alzheimer's, but there has been limited mechanistic analysis of mTBI contribution to AD. Here, we investigate the interplay between mTBI and Aβ precursor protein gene mutation in AD pathogenesis. We employed a knock-in (KI) model of AD that expresses the Aß-containing exons from human APP bearing the Swedish and Iberian mutations, namely AppNL-F/NL-F mice. Without environmental risk, this genetic variation yields minimal mouse symptomatology. Anesthetized 4-month-old KI mice and their age-matched wild type (WT) controls were subjected to repeated mild closed head injury (rmCHI), once daily for 14 days. Anesthetized, uninjured genotype- and age-matched mice were used as sham controls. At 3- and 8-months post-injury, amyloid-β, phospho-tau and Iba1 expression in the injured KI cortices were assessed. Our data reveal that rmCHI enhances accumulation of amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated tau inclusions, as well as neuroinflammation in AppNL-F/NL-F mice. Furthermore, novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests demonstrated that rmCHI greatly exacerbates persistent cognitive deficits in APPNL-F/NL-F mice. Therefore, study of gene-environment interaction demonstrates that combining risk factors provides a more robust model for AD, and that repeated mTBI substantially accelerates AD pathology in a genetically susceptible situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Chiasseu
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-ku, Mizuho-cho, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takaomi C Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Stephen M Strittmatter
- Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Departments of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Departments of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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O'Halloran PJ, Amoo M, Johnson D, Corr P, Nolan D, Farrell M, Caird J. Sports & exercise related traumatic brain injury in the Republic of Ireland - The neurosurgical perspective. J Clin Neurosci 2020; 81:416-420. [PMID: 33222953 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the concerns regarding the long-term cognitive effects of repeated sports related head injury have become a major source of debate, it is not uncommon for these patients to require neurosurgical interventions in the acute setting. The aim of this study was to provide a unique insight into the acute nature and neurosurgical management of sports and exercise related traumatic brain injury. METHODS We retrospectively analysed electronic records of all referrals made between July 2016 and December 2018 to the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital to identify instances of sport and exercise related traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A sub-group analysis was carried out on patients transferred to the tertiary centre requiring neurosurgical/neuro-critical care. RESULTS Over the 30-month period, 194 patients (mean age: 36) were referred withsports and exercise related TBI, of which 56 were transferred to our unit (26 adults, 30 paediatrics). The most frequently encountered sporting activities were cycling, gaelic football, horse riding and rugby. Injuries included cerebral contusions, subdural haematomas, extradural haematomas and skull fractures. Neurosurgical intervention via intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP), decompressive craniectomy and elevation of depressed skull fracture was required in 28 out of 194 patients (14.4%). 85.7% (n = 48) of patients had a discharge Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 15. 4 patients had a tracheostomy in place at discharge and there were 4 mortalities. CONCLUSIONS Sports and exercise activities, ranging from contact team sports to individual activities, are a common cause of traumatic brain injury and maybe associated with a significant morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J O'Halloran
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.
| | - Michael Amoo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Paula Corr
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Deirdre Nolan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Michael Farrell
- Department of Neuropathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - John Caird
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
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Mariani M, Alosco ML, Mez J, Stern RA. Clinical Presentation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Semin Neurol 2020; 40:370-383. [PMID: 32740900 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head impacts (RHI), such as those received in contact/collision sports, blast injury in military veterans, and domestic violence. Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed following death. Although the clinical features of former boxers have been described for almost a century, and there is increasing evidence of long-term cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairments in living former American football players, the specific clinical presentation associated with underlying CTE neuropathology remains unclear. These features include diverse and nonspecific changes in cognition, mood, behavior, and motor functioning. Currently, there are no validated and widely accepted clinical diagnostic criteria. Proposed criteria are primarily based on retrospective telephonic interviews with the next of kin of individuals who were diagnosed with CTE postmortem. Prospective studies involving individuals presumably at high risk for CTE are underway; these will hopefully clarify the clinical features and course of CTE, allow the diagnostic criteria to be refined, and lead to the development and validation of in vivo biomarkers. This article reviews what is currently known about the clinical presentation of CTE and describes the evolution of this knowledge from early case reports of "punch drunk" boxers through larger case series of neuropathologically confirmed CTE. This article concludes with a discussion of gaps in research and future directions to address these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Mariani
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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35
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Amitay N, Zlotnik Y, Coreanu T, Zeller L, Abu-Salameh I, Novack V, Ifergane G. Soccer heading and subclinical neuropsychiatric symptomatology in professional soccer players. Neurology 2020; 95:e1776-e1783. [DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between postconcussive symptomatology and heading in professional soccer players, overcoming the bias of self-reported exposure, we evaluated several clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms using questionnaires after a thorough objective follow-up of players’ heading exposure throughout an entire season.MethodsWe collected heading data for all Israeli Premier League players for an entire season using a web-based platform for performance analysis, which enabled us to quantify the exact number of headers per player. Players filled out questionnaires regarding postconcussion symptoms, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. We tested the association between the number of headers and each outcome using a negative binomial regression corrected for the hours played.ResultsA total of 159 players were included, of whom 79 were considered in the high heading exposure group (49%), defined as more than median number of headings (1.34 per game hour). Among players without any past head injury, those with higher heading exposure were less likely to have postconcussion symptoms compared with players with low heading exposure (relative risk [RR] per heading per hour 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.912–0.963). Players with high heading exposure had fewer depression symptoms (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.961–0.997), anxiety (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.958–0.997), and sleep disorders (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.961–0.996).ConclusionProfessional soccer players with high heading rate do not display higher postconcussive symptomatology severity. Symptoms among players with low heading exposure might be explained by low resilience, possibly associated with an inferior heading technique. Alternatively, it can reflect heading-avoidant behavior.
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36
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Gouttebarge V, Kerkhoffs GMMJ. Sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. Neurochirurgie 2020; 67:280-282. [PMID: 32017942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In elite sports, concussion is common and recurrent, especially in high-speed contact or collision sports such as american and australian football, ice hockey and rugby. Mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance) are often reported by former elite athletes, with prevalence ranging from 16% for distress to 26% for anxiety/depression. This article focuses on the potential relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. METHOD A narrative mini-review was based on the scientific literature. RESULTS Some literature based on cross-sectional data suggests that sports career-related concussion might lead in the long term to mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. Retired professional American football players reporting three or more previous concussions were found to be three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with no history of concussion. Former professional athletes from football, ice hockey and rugby who reported a history of six or more concussions were approximately up to five times more likely to report mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS While longitudinal evidence about any causal relationship is lacking, the suggested relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes warrants the development of support measures for elite athletes transitioning out of sport, especially for those with a history of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Gouttebarge
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, 9, Meibergdreef, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Center for Evidence-Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Amsterdam UMC IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - G M M J Kerkhoffs
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, 9, Meibergdreef, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Center for Evidence-Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Amsterdam UMC IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Smith DH, Johnson VE, Trojanowski JQ, Stewart W. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - confusion and controversies. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 15:179-183. [PMID: 30664683 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-018-0114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The term chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has recently entered public consciousness via media reports and even a Hollywood movie. However, in contrast to general impressions, the incidence of CTE is unknown, the clinical diagnostic criteria have not been agreed upon and the current neuropathological characterization of CTE is acknowledged as preliminary. Additionally, few studies have compared the pathologies of CTE with those of other neurodegenerative disorders or of age-matched controls. Consequently, disagreement continues about the neuropathological aspects that make CTE unique. Furthermore, CTE is widely considered to be a consequence of exposure to repeated head blows, but evidence suggests that a single moderate or severe traumatic brain injury can also induce progressive neuropathological changes. These unresolved aspects of CTE underlie disparate claims about its clinical and pathological features, leading to confusion among the public and health-care professionals alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Institute on Aging, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK.,Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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O'Keeffe E, Kelly E, Liu Y, Giordano C, Wallace E, Hynes M, Tiernan S, Meagher A, Greene C, Hughes S, Burke T, Kealy J, Doyle N, Hay A, Farrell M, Grant GA, Friedman A, Veksler R, Molloy MG, Meaney JF, Pender N, Camarillo D, Doherty CP, Campbell M. Dynamic Blood-Brain Barrier Regulation in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:347-356. [PMID: 31702476 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas the diagnosis of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is readily visible on current medical imaging paradigms (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and computed tomography [CT] scanning), a far greater challenge is associated with the diagnosis and subsequent management of mild TBI (mTBI), especially concussion which, by definition, is characterized by a normal CT. To investigate whether the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is altered in a high-risk population for concussions, we studied professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and adolescent rugby players. Additionally, we performed the linear regression between the BBB disruption defined by increased gadolinium contrast extravasation on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) on MRI and multiple biomechanical parameters indicating the severity of impacts recorded using instrumented mouthguards in professional MMA fighters. MMA fighters were examined pre-fight for a baseline and again within 120 h post-competitive fight, whereas rugby players were examined pre-season and again post-season or post-match in a subset of cases. DCE-MRI, serological analysis of BBB biomarkers, and an analysis of instrumented mouthguard data, was performed. Here, we provide pilot data that demonstrate disruption of the BBB in both professional MMA fighters and rugby players, dependent on the level of exposure. Our data suggest that biomechanical forces in professional MMA and adolescent rugby can lead to BBB disruption. These changes on imaging may serve as a biomarker of exposure of the brain to repetitive subconcussive forces and mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoin O'Keeffe
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eoin Kelly
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, Hospital 5, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yuzhe Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Chiara Giordano
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Eugene Wallace
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, Hospital 5, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark Hynes
- Personal Health, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen Tiernan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aidan Meagher
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chris Greene
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Tom Burke
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Kealy
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh Doyle
- Department of Psychology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alison Hay
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, Hospital 5, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Farrell
- Department of Neuropathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gerald A Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Alon Friedman
- Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ronel Veksler
- Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | | | - James F Meaney
- Department of Radiology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI), St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niall Pender
- Department of Psychology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David Camarillo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Colin P Doherty
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, Hospital 5, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Academic Unit of Neurology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Mackay DF, Russell ER, Stewart K, MacLean JA, Pell JP, Stewart W. Neurodegenerative Disease Mortality among Former Professional Soccer Players. N Engl J Med 2019; 381:1801-1808. [PMID: 31633894 PMCID: PMC8747032 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1908483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disorders have been reported in elite athletes who participated in contact sports. The incidence of neurodegenerative disease among former professional soccer players has not been well characterized. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare mortality from neurodegenerative disease among 7676 former professional soccer players (identified from databases of Scottish players) with that among 23,028 controls from the general population who were matched to the players on the basis of sex, age, and degree of social deprivation. Causes of death were determined from death certificates. Data on medications dispensed for the treatment of dementia in the two cohorts were also compared. Prescription information was obtained from the national Prescribing Information System. RESULTS Over a median of 18 years, 1180 former soccer players (15.4%) and 3807 controls (16.5%) died. All-cause mortality was lower among former players than among controls up to the age of 70 years and was higher thereafter. Mortality from ischemic heart disease was lower among former players than among controls (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.97; P = 0.02), as was mortality from lung cancer (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.70; P<0.001). Mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary cause was 1.7% among former soccer players and 0.5% among controls (subhazard ratio [the hazard ratio adjusted for competing risks of death from ischemic heart disease and death from any cancer], 3.45; 95% CI, 2.11 to 5.62; P<0.001). Among former players, mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary or a contributory cause on the death certificate varied according to disease subtype and was highest among those with Alzheimer's disease (hazard ratio [former players vs. controls], 5.07; 95% CI, 2.92 to 8.82; P<0.001) and lowest among those with Parkinson's disease (hazard ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.17 to 3.96; P = 0.01). Dementia-related medications were prescribed more frequently to former players than to controls (odds ratio, 4.90; 95% CI, 3.81 to 6.31; P<0.001). Mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary or a contributory cause did not differ significantly between goalkeepers and outfield players (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.24; P = 0.24), but dementia-related medications were prescribed less frequently to goalkeepers (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.89; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective epidemiologic analysis, mortality from neurodegenerative disease was higher and mortality from other common diseases lower among former Scottish professional soccer players than among matched controls. Dementia-related medications were prescribed more frequently to former players than to controls. These observations need to be confirmed in prospective matched-cohort studies. (Funded by the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Mackay
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK
| | - Emma R Russell
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Katy Stewart
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Stadium, Glasgow G42 9ED, UK
| | - John A MacLean
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Stadium, Glasgow G42 9ED, UK
| | - Jill P Pell
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK
| | - William Stewart
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
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40
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Zuckerman SL, Brett BL, Jeckell A, Yengo-Kahn AM, Solomon GS. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Neurodegeneration in Contact Sports and American Football. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 66:37-55. [PMID: 30223396 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of abnormally phosphorylated tau protein in the depths of one or more cortical sulci. Controversy over the risk of CTE and neurologic disorders later in life among contact sport athletes has taken hold in the public spotlight, most notably in American football. Players, parents, coaches, and legislators have taken action based on the commonly held notion that contact sports invariably lead to neurodegenerative disorders. However, to fully understand the science behind this assumed association, a critical appraisal of the evidence is warranted. With regards to CTE in sports, the objectives of the current report are to: 1) describe the history of CTE, 2) review current CTE definitions, 3) critically evaluate the empiric data, divided into all contact sports and exclusively American football, and 4) summarize notable themes for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott L Zuckerman
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Benjamin L Brett
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Aaron Jeckell
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Aaron M Yengo-Kahn
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Gary S Solomon
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Lee EB, Kinch K, Johnson VE, Trojanowski JQ, Smith DH, Stewart W. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a common co-morbidity, but less frequent primary dementia in former soccer and rugby players. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:389-399. [PMID: 31152201 PMCID: PMC6689293 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02030-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is reported at high prevalence in selected autopsy case series of former contact sports athletes. Nevertheless, the contribution of CTE pathology to clinical presentation and its interaction with co-morbid neurodegenerative pathologies remain unclear. To address these issues, we performed comprehensive neuropathology assessments on the brains of former athletes with dementia and considered these findings together with detailed clinical histories to derive an integrated clinicopathological diagnosis for each case. Consecutive, autopsy-acquired brains from former soccer and rugby players with dementia were assessed for neurodegenerative pathologies using established and preliminary consensus protocols. Thereafter, next of kin interviews were conducted to obtain detailed accounts of the patient’s clinical presentation and course of disease to inform a final, integrated clinicopathological diagnosis. Neuropathologic change consistent with CTE (CTE-NC) was confirmed in five of seven former soccer and three of four former rugby players’ brains, invariably in combination with mixed, often multiple neurodegenerative pathologies. However, in just three cases was the integrated dementia diagnosis consistent with CTE, the remainder having alternate diagnoses, with the most frequent integrated diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (four cases; one as mixed AD and vascular dementia). This consecutive autopsy series identifies neuropathologic change consistent with preliminary diagnostic criteria for CTE (CTE-NC) in a high proportion of former soccer and rugby players dying with dementia. However, in the majority, CTE-NC appears as a co-morbidity rather than the primary, dementia causing pathology. As such, we suggest that while CTE-NC might be common in former athletes with dementia, in many cases its clinical significance remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward B Lee
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kevin Kinch
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK
| | - Victoria E Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Rd, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK.
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Owens TS, Rose G, Marley CJ, Calverley TA, Stacey BS, Williams P, Williams JPR, Bailey DM. The changing nature of concussion in rugby union: Looking back to look forward. JOURNAL OF CONCUSSION 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/2059700219860641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Concussion is regularly observed in rugby union and has generated a growing public health concern, yet remains one of the least understood injuries facing the sports medicine community. Evidence suggests that multiple concussions may increase susceptibility to long-term neurological complications that present decades after the initial injury for reasons that remain unclear. We aimed to determine the incidence rate and risk factors for concussion amongst community-level rugby union-15s players active during the 1980s given that it may help to better understand the risks and mechanisms of injury. Methods Injury data were collected from clubs by the coach at the time of injury in players using a 15-item questionnaire (1982–1984). Results Seventy games were recorded throughout 1982–1983 and 1983–1984 rugby union seasons. Forty-two documented concussions accounted for ∼6% of injuries corresponding to an incidence rate of 0.64 per 1000 playing hours, more than a third lower than the ‘modern-day’ equivalent. Tackling (relative risk 1.60, p < 0.05), collisions (relative risk 0.95, p < 0.05) and gum shield use (relative risk 1.69, p < 0.05) were independently associated with concussion whereas no associations were observed for ground condition, quarter of play or players playing out of position ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Despite limitations due to the retrospective focus and reliance on questionnaire data notwithstanding raised awareness of concussion, the incidence rate of concussion during the 1980s appears to be appreciably lower compared to the present-day game. This is the likely outcome of improvements in the clinical understanding of concussion, data collection tools, reporting methods and clinical management of concussive injuries, including changes to both player and game. However, the findings of this study help better understand the risks and mechanisms of injury once encountered by rugby union players active during the 1980s, of which some of those risks are still apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Owens
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - George Rose
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Christopher J Marley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Thomas A Calverley
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Benjamin S Stacey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Priscilla Williams
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - John PR Williams
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Damian M Bailey
- Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
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Russell ER, Stewart K, Mackay DF, MacLean J, Pell JP, Stewart W. Football's InfluencE on Lifelong health and Dementia risk (FIELD): protocol for a retrospective cohort study of former professional footballers. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e028654. [PMID: 31123003 PMCID: PMC6538057 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the past decade, evidence has emerged suggesting a potential link between contact sport participation and increased risk of late neurodegenerative disease, in particular chronic traumatic encephalopathy. While there remains a lack of clear evidence to test the hypothesis that contact sport participation is linked to an increased incidence of dementia, there is growing public concern regarding the risk. There is, therefore, a pressing need for research to gain greater understanding of the potential risks involved in contact sports participation, and to contextualise these within holistic health benefits of sport. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Football's InfluencE on Lifelong health and Dementia risk is designed as a retrospective cohort study, with the aim to analyse data from former professional footballers (FPF) in order to assess the incidence of neurodegenerative disease in this population. Comprehensive electronic medical and death records will be analysed and compared with those of a demographically matched population control cohort. As well as neurodegenerative disease incidence, all-cause, and disease-specific mortality, will be analysed in order to assess lifelong health. Cox proportional hazards models will be run to compare the data collected from FPFs to matched population controls. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Approvals for study have been obtained from the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Project Number 200160147) and from National Health Service Scotland's Public Benefits and Privacy Panel (Application 1718-0120).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R Russell
- Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Katy Stewart
- Sport and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Stadium, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel F Mackay
- Public Health, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - John MacLean
- Sport and Exercise Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Hampden Sports Clinic, Hampden Stadium, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jill P Pell
- Public Health, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - William Stewart
- Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
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Gouttebarge V, Cowie C, Goedhart E, Kemp SPT, Kerkhoffs GMMJ, Patricios J, Stokes KA. Educational concussion module for professional footballers: from systematic development to feasibility and effect. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2019; 5:e000490. [PMID: 30899550 PMCID: PMC6407555 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To describe: (1) how we developed a concussion module and (2) whether the concussion module is feasible (in terms of relevance, added value and suitability) and enhances knowledge and changes attitude of professional footballers about concussion. Developing the concussion module We developed the concussion module based on two structured and systematic processes. First, our needs assessment (questionnaire and interviews) in professional football (especially players) revealed that a 5–10 min concussion module was needed, ideally disseminated during club visits. Second, the objectives were defined (from published literature and by experts) as to disseminate essential information about what concussion is (definition), how to recognise it and the importance of removing a player with (suspected) concussion from the football field. We included an introductory video featuring a high-profile professional footballer and an animated educational component on defining concussion, recognising it and removing affected players from the field. Feasibility and effect A quasiexperimental study (pretest post-test design) was conducted among 61 professional footballers. These players were asked to complete two questionnaires related to knowledge about and attitude towards concussion and feasibility of the module: one before and one after viewing the concussion module. Potential increase in knowledge and attitude was explored by comparing the pretest and post-test scores of the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes
Survey with the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p<0.05). The mean knowledge score of the participants was stable between tests (Z=213; p=0.16), while mean attitude score increased significantly (Z=331; p=0.01). Nearly all participants (85%–100%) were positive about the relevance, added value, duration and form of the concussion module. Conclusion The developed educational concussion module leads to better attitude of professional footballers towards concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Gouttebarge
- World Players' Union (FIFPro), Hoofddorp, Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Univ of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), AMC/VUmc IOC Research Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Edwin Goedhart
- Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), FIFA Medical Center of Excellence, Zeist, Netherlands
| | | | - Gino M M J Kerkhoffs
- Amsterdam UMC, Univ of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), AMC/VUmc IOC Research Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jon Patricios
- School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Keith A Stokes
- Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, UK.,Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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45
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46
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Cunningham J, Broglio S, Wilson F. Influence of playing rugby on long-term brain health following retirement: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018; 4:e000356. [PMID: 29719729 PMCID: PMC5926651 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this review was to systematically investigate long-term brain health in retired rugby players. Methods Six databases were systematically searched from inception to January 2018 using Medical Subject Headings and keywords. Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion. Cross-sectional studies of living retired male or female rugby players in which at least one cognitive test was used as an outcome measure were included. Data extraction was performed using Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed independently by two reviewers using the Downs and Black methodological quality tool. Results This review yielded six studies with an overall methodological quality of 'moderate'. A total of 672 male retired rugby players (mean ages of 38-52 years) were included in this review. Three studies investigated neuropsychological functioning in retired rugby players in comparison with controls, with no significant evidence of decreased performance in the majority of tests when compared with controls. Five out of the six studies explored self-reported measures of cognition. Three studies compared retired rugby players to controls, one of which found significantly increased subjective cognitive complaints among retired rugby players. The other two studies found that persistent postconcussion symptoms were associated with a higher number of self-reported concussions. Two studies reported decreased fine motor control in retired rugby players in comparison with controls. Neurometabolites and electrophysiological changes were explored by two studies, with minimal and non-significant findings. Conclusions Overall findings are mixed. Methodological biases reduce the overall study quality and limited the conclusions that can be drawn. Findings of decreased fine motor control in retired athletes may be influenced by lack of controlling for evidence of upper limb musculoskeletal injuries. While some studies show evidence of reduced cognitive function among former athletes, the results are not significantly lower than population norms. Cognitive findings from this review are inconsistent within and across study cohorts and are biased towards positive findings when self-report methods were selected. Current evidence suggests that large gaps remain in the understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between playing rugby and long-term brain health in retired players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joice Cunningham
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Centre for Learning and Development, Trinity Centre, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Steven Broglio
- Departments of Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan in the School of Kinesiology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Neuro Trauma Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Fiona Wilson
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,Centre for Learning and Development, Trinity Centre, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Lin A, Charney M, Shenton ME, Koerte IK. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: neuroimaging biomarkers. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2018; 158:309-322. [PMID: 30482359 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63954-7.00029-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with repetitive head impact exposure, such as that resulting from sports-related concussive and subconcussive brain trauma. Currently, the only way to diagnose CTE is by using neuropathologic markers obtained postmortem. To diagnose CTE earlier, so that possible treatment interventions may be employed, there is a need to develop noninvasive in vivo biomarkers of CTE. Neuroimaging provides promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of CTE and may also help elucidate pathophysiologic changes that occur with chronic sports-related brain injury. To describe the use of neuroimaging as presumed biomarkers of CTE, this chapter focuses on only those studies that report the chronic stages of sports-related brain injury, as opposed to previous chapters that described neuroimaging in the context of acute and subacute injury. Studies using positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy will be discussed for contact/collision sports such as American football, boxing, mixed martial arts, rugby, and soccer, in which repetitive head impacts are common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lin
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Molly Charney
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatric Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Inga Katharina Koerte
- Psychiatric Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
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48
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Mouzon BC, Bachmeier C, Ojo JO, Acker CM, Ferguson S, Paris D, Ait-Ghezala G, Crynen G, Davies P, Mullan M, Stewart W, Crawford F. Lifelong behavioral and neuropathological consequences of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2017; 5:64-80. [PMID: 29376093 PMCID: PMC5771321 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Exposure to repetitive concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), has been linked with increased risk of long‐term neurodegenerative changes, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). To date, preclinical studies largely have focused on the immediate aftermath of mTBI, with no literature on the lifelong consequences of mTBI in these models. This study provides the first account of lifelong neurobehavioral and histological consequences of repetitive mTBI providing unique insight into the constellation of evolving and ongoing pathologies with late survival. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice (aged 2–3 months) were exposed to either single or repetitive mild TBI or sham procedure. Thereafter, animals were monitored and assessed at 24 months post last injury for measures of motor coordination, learning deficits, cognitive function, and anxiety‐like behavior prior to euthanasia and preparation of the brains for detailed neuropathological and protein biochemical studies. Results At 24 months survival animals exposed to r‐mTBI showed clear evidence of learning and working memory impairment with a lack of spatial memory and vestibule‐motor vestibulomotor deficits compared to sham animals. Associated with these late behavioral deficits there was evidence of ongoing axonal degeneration and neuroinflammation in subcortical white matter tracts. Notably, these changes were also observed after a single mTBI, albeit to a lesser degree than repetitive mTBI. Interpretation In this context, our current data demonstrate, for the first time, that rather than an acute, time limited event, mild TBI can precipitate a lifelong degenerative process. These data therefore suggest that successful treatment strategies should consider both the acute and chronic nature of mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit C Mouzon
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
| | - Corbin Bachmeier
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
| | - Joseph O Ojo
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida
| | | | - Scott Ferguson
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida
| | - Daniel Paris
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
| | - Ghania Ait-Ghezala
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
| | - Gogce Crynen
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
| | - Peter Davies
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Manhasset New York
| | | | - William Stewart
- Queen Elizabeth Glasgow University Hospital Glasgow United Kingdom.,University of Glasgow Glasgow United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Crawford
- Roskamp Institute Sarasota Florida.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital Tampa Florida.,The Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom
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Pischiutta F, Micotti E, Hay JR, Marongiu I, Sammali E, Tolomeo D, Vegliante G, Stocchetti N, Forloni G, De Simoni MG, Stewart W, Zanier ER. Single severe traumatic brain injury produces progressive pathology with ongoing contralateral white matter damage one year after injury. Exp Neurol 2017; 300:167-178. [PMID: 29126888 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing recognition that traumatic brain injury (TBI) may initiate long-term neurodegenerative processes, particularly chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, insight into the mechanisms transforming an initial biomechanical injury into a neurodegenerative process remain elusive, partly as a consequence of the paucity of informative pre-clinical models. This study shows the functional, whole brain imaging and neuropathological consequences at up to one year survival from single severe TBI by controlled cortical impact in mice. TBI mice displayed persistent sensorimotor and cognitive deficits. Longitudinal T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed progressive ipsilateral (il) cortical, hippocampal and striatal volume loss, with diffusion tensor imaging demonstrating decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) at up to one year in the il-corpus callosum (CC: -30%) and external capsule (EC: -21%). Parallel neuropathological studies indicated reduction in neuronal density, with evidence of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the il-cortex, with further evidence of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the il-thalamus. One year after TBI there was also a decrease in FA in the contralateral (cl) CC (-17%) and EC (-13%), corresponding to histopathological evidence of white matter loss (cl-CC: -68%; cl-EC: -30%) associated with ongoing microgliosis and astrogliosis. These findings indicate that a single severe TBI induces bilateral, long-term and progressive neuropathology at up to one year after injury. These observations support this model as a suitable platform for exploring the mechanistic link between acute brain injury and late and persistent neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pischiutta
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Micotti
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Jennifer R Hay
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ines Marongiu
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Sammali
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy; Department of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS - Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Tolomeo
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Gloria Vegliante
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Nino Stocchetti
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, Milan University, Milan, Italy; ICU Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria-Grazia De Simoni
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - William Stewart
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Elisa R Zanier
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
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50
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Gouttebarge V, Aoki H, Lambert M, Stewart W, Kerkhoffs G. A history of concussions is associated with symptoms of common mental disorders in former male professional athletes across a range of sports. PHYSICIAN SPORTSMED 2017; 45:443-449. [PMID: 28870119 PMCID: PMC9336050 DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2017.1376572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent reports suggest that exposure to repetitive concussions in sports is associated with an increased risk of symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance or substance abuse/dependence (typically referred as symptoms of common mental disorders[CMD]) and of later development of neurodegenerative disease, in particular chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sports career-related concussions and the subsequent occurrence of symptoms of CMD among former male professional athletes retired from football (soccer), ice hockey and rugby (union). METHODS Cross-sectional analyses were performed on baseline electronic questionnaires from three prospective cohort studies among former male professional athletes retired from football (soccer), ice hockey and rugby (union). The number of confirmed concussions was examined through a single question, while symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance and adverse alcohol use were assessed using validated questionnaires. RESULTS From 1,957 former professional athletes contacted, a total of 576 (29%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 23% had not incurred a concussion during their career, 34% had two or three, 18% four or five, and 11% six or more concussions. The number of sports career-related concussions was a predictor for all outcome measures (β = 0.072-0.109; P ≤ 0.040). Specifically, former professional athletes who reported a history of four or five concussions were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report symptoms of CMD, rising to a two- to five-fold increase in those reporting a history of six or more sports career-related concussions. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate an association between exposure to sports concussion and subsequent risk of symptoms of CMD in former professional athletes across a range of contact sports. Further work to explore the association between sports concussion and symptoms of CMD is required; in the meanwhile, strategies for effective risk reduction and improved management appear indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Gouttebarge
- Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports medicine (ACES), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,World Players’ Union (FIFPro), Hoofddorp, The Netherlands,Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Haruhito Aoki
- St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawazaki, Japan
| | - Michael Lambert
- Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - William Stewart
- Department of Neuropathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Gino Kerkhoffs
- Academic Center for Evidence-based Sports medicine (ACES), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,Amsterdam Collaboration for Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Academic Medical Center / VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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