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Grashow R, Eagle SR, Terry DP, DiGregorio H, Baggish AL, Weisskopf MG, Kontos A, Okonkwo DO, Zafonte R. Medical Conditions in Former Professional American-Style Football Players Are Associated With Self-Reported Clinical Features of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:376-386. [PMID: 38655114 PMCID: PMC11035840 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2024.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Consensus criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) specify that at least one core clinical feature of cognitive impairment (CI; e.g., difficulties with memory, executive function) or neurobehavioral dysregulation (ND; e.g., explosiveness, rage, and mood lability) be present and not fully accounted for by other health disorders. Associations between self-reported symptoms that mirror the core clinical features of TES-and how they may be related to concomitant medical conditions-remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of medical conditions and football exposures with TES clinical features (CI+/-, ND+/-) in 1741 former professional American-style football (ASF) players (age, 57.7 ± 13.9 years; professional seasons, 6.6 ± 3.9 years). Demographics (age, race/ethnicity, current body mass index, age of first football exposure, use of performance-enhancing drugs, position played, and past concussion symptoms), self-reported medical conditions (anxiety, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], sleep apnea, headache, stroke, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, and low testosterone) were collected. Of 1741 participants, 7.4% were CI+ and/or ND+ (n = 129). Participants who were CI+ or ND+ were more likely to report one or more coexisting medical conditions than participants who did not report CI or ND (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.25-3.47; p = 0.003). Separate general linear models for each medical condition that adjusted for demographics and football-related factors identified significant associations between ADHD, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, headaches, sleep apnea, anxiety, and low testosterone and CI+ and/or ND+ (ORs = 1.8-6.0). Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) multi-variable decision tree models that incorporated medical conditions and football exposures accurately differentiated former players meeting either CI or ND clinical criteria from those meeting none (accuracy = 91.2-96.6%). CHAID identified combinations of depression, headache, sleep apnea, ADHD, and upper quartiles of concussion symptom history as most predictive of CI+ and/or ND+ status. CI+ and/or ND+ players were more likely to report medical conditions known to cause cognitive symptoms. Concussion exposure and medical conditions significantly increased the likelihood that a former ASF player would demonstrate cognitive or neurobehavioral dysfunction. Clinicians engaged with this population should consider whether treatable coexisting condition(s) could account for some portion of the clinical picture associated with TES presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Grashow
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shawn R. Eagle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Aaron L. Baggish
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and Institute for Sport Science, University of Lausanne (ISSUL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marc G. Weisskopf
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anthony Kontos
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David O. Okonkwo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ross Zafonte
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Lember LM, Ntikas M, Mondello S, Wilson L, Di Virgilio TG, Hunter AM, Kobeissy F, Mechref Y, Donaldson DI, Ietswaart M. The Use of Biofluid Markers to Evaluate the Consequences of Sport-Related Subconcussive Head Impact Exposure: A Scoping Review. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:12. [PMID: 38270708 PMCID: PMC10811313 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-023-00665-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amidst growing concern about the safety of sport-related repetitive subconcussive head impacts (RSHI), biofluid markers may provide sensitive, informative, and practical assessment of the effects of RSHI exposure. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aimed to systematically examine the extent, nature, and quality of available evidence from studies investigating the effects of RSHI on biofluid markers, to identify gaps and to formulate guidelines to inform future research. METHODS PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines were adhered to. The protocol was pre-registered through publication. MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, OpenGrey, and two clinical trial registries were searched (until March 30, 2022) using descriptors for subconcussive head impacts, biomarkers, and contact sports. Included studies were assessed for risk of bias and quality. RESULTS Seventy-nine research publications were included in the review. Forty-nine studies assessed the acute effects, 23 semi-acute and 26 long-term effects of RSHI exposure. The most studied sports were American football, boxing, and soccer, and the most investigated markers were (in descending order): S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S100B), tau, neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), and hormones. High or moderate bias was found in most studies, and marker-specific conclusions were subject to heterogeneous and limited evidence. Although the evidence is weak, some biofluid markers-such as NfL-appeared to show promise. More markedly, S100B was found to be problematic when evaluating the effects of RSHI in sport. CONCLUSION Considering the limitations of the evidence base revealed by this first review dedicated to systematically scoping the evidence of biofluid marker levels following RSHI exposure, the field is evidently still in its infancy. As a result, any recommendation and application is premature. Although some markers show promise for the assessment of brain health following RSHI exposure, future large standardized and better-controlled studies are needed to determine biofluid markers' utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liivia-Mari Lember
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Michail Ntikas
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- The School of Psychology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Stefania Mondello
- Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Lindsay Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Thomas G Di Virgilio
- Physiology Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Angus M Hunter
- Physiology Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- Department of Sports Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Center for Neurotrauma, Department of Neurobiology and Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Multiomics & Biomarkers, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Yehia Mechref
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - David I Donaldson
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Magdalena Ietswaart
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
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Saloner R, VandeVrede L, Asken BM, Paolillo EW, Gontrum EQ, Wolf A, Lario‐Lago A, Milà‐Alomà M, Triana‐Baltzer G, Kolb HC, Dubal DB, Rabinovici GD, Miller BL, Boxer AL, Casaletto KB, Kramer JH. Plasma phosphorylated tau-217 exhibits sex-specific prognostication of cognitive decline and brain atrophy in cognitively unimpaired adults. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:376-387. [PMID: 37639492 PMCID: PMC10843677 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidence indicates disproportionate tau burden and tau-related clinical progression in females. However, sex differences in plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 prediction of subclinical cognitive and brain changes are unknown. METHODS We measured baseline plasma p-tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) in 163 participants (85 cognitively unimpaired [CU], 78 mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). In CU, linear mixed effects models examined sex differences in plasma biomarker prediction of longitudinal domain-specific cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Cognitive models were repeated in MCI. RESULTS In CU females, baseline plasma p-tau217 predicted verbal memory and medial temporal lobe trajectories such that trajectories significantly declined once p-tau217 concentrations surpassed 0.053 pg/ml, a threshold that corresponded to early levels of cortical amyloid aggregation in secondary amyloid positron emission tomography analyses. CU males exhibited similar rates of cognitive decline and brain atrophy, but these trajectories were not dependent on plasma p-tau217. Plasma GFAP and NfL exhibited similar female-specific prediction of medial temporal lobe atrophy in CU. Plasma p-tau217 exhibited comparable prediction of cognitive decline across sex in MCI. DISCUSSION Plasma p-tau217 may capture earlier Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive and brain atrophy hallmarks in females compared to males, possibly reflective of increased susceptibility to AD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Saloner
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lawren VandeVrede
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Breton M. Asken
- Department of Clinical and Health PsychologyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Emily W. Paolillo
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eva Q. Gontrum
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amy Wolf
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Argentina Lario‐Lago
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Marta Milà‐Alomà
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Hartmuth C. Kolb
- Neuroscience BiomarkersJanssen Research & Development, LLCSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dena B. Dubal
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Adam L. Boxer
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kaitlin B. Casaletto
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Joel H. Kramer
- Department of NeurologyWeill Institute for NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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Bernick C, Shan G, Ritter A, Ashton NJ, Blennow K, Lantero-Rodriguez J, Snellman A, Zetterberg H. Blood biomarkers and neurodegeneration in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:173. [PMID: 37828595 PMCID: PMC10571311 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01310-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unknown if fluid biomarkers reflective of brain pathologies are useful in detecting and following a neurodegenerative process in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts. This study explores the relationship between blood biomarkers and longitudinal change in cognitive function and regional brain volumes in a cohort of professional fighters. METHODS Participants are drawn from a convenience sample of active and retired professional boxers and Mixed Martial Arts fighters and a control group with no prior exposure to head impacts. 3 T MRI brain imaging, plasma samples, and computerized cognitive testing were obtained at baseline and, for a subset, annually. MRI regional volumes were extracted, along with plasma levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), p-tau231, and N-terminal tau (NTA). Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationship between plasma levels and regional brain volumes and cognitive performance at baseline and longitudinally. RESULTS One hundred forty active boxers (mean age: 31 with standard deviation (SD) of 8), 211 active MMA (mean age of 30 with SD of 5), 69 retired boxers (mean age 49 with SD of 9), and 52 control participants (mean age 36 with SD of 12) were included in the analyses. Baseline GFAP levels were highest in the retired boxers (retired boxers v. active MMA: p = 0.0191), whereas active boxers had higher levels of NfL (active boxers v. MMA: p = 0.047). GFAP showed an increase longitudinally in retired boxers that was associated with decreasing volumes of multiple cortical and subcortical structures (e.g., hippocampus: B = - 1.25, 95% CI, - 1.65 to - 0.85) and increase in lateral ventricle size (B = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.46 to 2.04). Furthermore, performance on cognitive domains including memory, processing speed, psychomotor speed, and reaction time declined over time with increasing GFAP (e.g., processing speed: B = - 0.04, 95% CI, - 0.07 to - 0.02; reaction time: B = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.76). Among active fighters, increasing levels of GFAP were correlated with lower thalamic (B = - 1.42, 95% CI, - 2.34 to -0.49) and corpus callosum volumes, along with worsening scores on psychomotor speed (B = 0.14, 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.27). CONCLUSION Longitudinal plasma GFAP levels may have a role in identifying individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts who are at risk of showing progressive regional atrophy and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Bernick
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
| | - Guogen Shan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Aaron Ritter
- Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Nicholas J Ashton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Kaj Blennow
- 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
| | - Juan Lantero-Rodriguez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Anniina Snellman
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- 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
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Halicki MJ, Hind K, Chazot PL. Blood-Based Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Research to Date and Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12556. [PMID: 37628736 PMCID: PMC10454393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612556] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease consistently associated with repetitive traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which makes multiple professions, such as contact sports athletes and the military, especially susceptible to its onset. There are currently no approved biomarkers to diagnose CTE, thus it can only be confirmed through a post-mortem brain autopsy. Several imaging and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have shown promise in the diagnosis. However, blood-based biomarkers can be more easily obtained and quantified, increasing their clinical feasibility and potential for prophylactic use. This article aimed to comprehensively review the studies into potential blood-based biomarkers of CTE, discussing common themes and limitations, as well as suggesting future research directions. While the interest in blood-based biomarkers of CTE has recently increased, the research is still in its early stages. The main issue for many proposed biomarkers is their lack of selectivity for CTE. However, several molecules, such as different phosphorylated tau isoforms, were able to discern CTE from different neurodegenerative diseases. Further, the results from studies on exosomal biomarkers suggest that exosomes are a promising source of biomarkers, reflective of the internal environment of the brain. Nonetheless, more longitudinal studies combining imaging, neurobehavioral, and biochemical approaches are warranted to establish robust biomarkers for CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Hind
- Durham Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK;
| | - Paul L. Chazot
- Department of Biosciences, Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
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Dhaynaut M, Grashow R, Normandin MD, Wu O, Marengi D, Terry DP, Sanchez JS, Weisskopf MG, Speizer FE, Taylor HA, Guehl NJ, Seshadri S, Beiser A, Daneshvar DH, Johnson K, Iverson GL, Zafonte R, El Fakhri G, Baggish AL. Tau Positron Emission Tomography and Neurocognitive Function Among Former Professional American-Style Football Players. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:1614-1624. [PMID: 37282582 PMCID: PMC10458363 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
American-style football (ASF) players experience repetitive head impacts that may result in chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathological change (CTE-NC). At present, a definitive diagnosis of CTE-NC requires the identification of localized hyperphosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) after death via immunohistochemistry. Some studies suggest that positron emission tomography (PET) with the radiotracer [18F]-Flortaucipir (FTP) may be capable of detecting p-Tau and thus establishing a diagnosis of CTE-NC among living former ASF players. To assess associations between FTP, football exposure, and objective neuropsychological measures among former professional ASF players, we conducted a study that compared former professional ASF players with age-matched male control participants without repetitive head impact exposure. Former ASF players and male controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging and PET using FTP for p-Tau and [11C]-PiB for amyloid-β. Former players underwent neuropsychological testing. The ASF exposure was quantified as age at first exposure, professional career duration, concussion signs and symptoms burden, and total years of any football play. Neuropsychological testing included measures of memory, executive functioning, and depression symptom severity. P-Tau was quantified as FTP standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) and [11C]-PiB by distribution volume ratios (DVR) using cerebellar grey matter as the reference region. There were no significant differences in [18F]-FTP uptake among former ASF players (n = 27, age = 50 ± 7 years) compared with control participants (n = 11, age = 55 ± 4 years), nor did any participant have significant amyloid-β burden. Among ASF participants, there were no associations between objective measures of neurocognitive functioning and [18F]-FTP uptake. There was a marginally significant difference, however, between [18F]-FTP uptake isolated to the entorhinal cortex among players in age-, position-, and race-adjusted models (p = 0.05) that may represent an area of future investigation. The absence of increased [18F]-FTP uptake in brain regions previously implicated in CTE among former professional ASF players compared with controls questions the utility of [18F]-FTP PET for clinical evaluation in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maeva Dhaynaut
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel Grashow
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marc D. Normandin
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ona Wu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Centre for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dean Marengi
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Douglas P. Terry
- Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Justin S. Sanchez
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marc G. Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Frank E. Speizer
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachsetts, USA
| | - Herman A. Taylor
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicolas J. Guehl
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UTHSA, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Alexa Beiser
- NHLBI's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Neurology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel H. Daneshvar
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
| | - Keith Johnson
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Grant L. Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Schoen Adams Research Institute at Spaulding Rehabilitation, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Sports Concussion Program, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ross Zafonte
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Georges El Fakhri
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aaron L. Baggish
- Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and Institute for Sport Science, University of Lausanne (ISSUL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Asken BM, Tanner JA, Gaynor LS, VandeVrede L, Mantyh WG, Casaletto KB, Staffaroni AM, Fonseca C, Shankar R, Grant H, Smith K, Lago AL, Xu H, La Joie R, Cobigo Y, Rosen H, Perry DC, Rojas JC, Miller BL, Gardner RC, Wang KKW, Kramer JH, Rabinovici GD. Alzheimer's pathology is associated with altered cognition, brain volume, and plasma biomarker patterns in traumatic encephalopathy syndrome. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:126. [PMID: 37480088 PMCID: PMC10360257 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01275-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) is a clinical phenotype sensitive but non-specific to underlying chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) neuropathology. However, cognitive symptoms of TES overlap with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and features of AD pathology like beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques often co-occur with CTE, making clinical-to-pathological conclusions of TES diagnoses challenging. We investigated how Alzheimer's neuropathological changes associated with cognition, brain volume, and plasma biomarkers in patients with repetitive head impacts (RHI)/TES, clinical AD, or typically aging controls. METHODS We studied 154 participants including 33 with RHI/TES (age 61.5 ± 11.5, 100% male, 11/33 Aβ[ +]), 62 with AD and no known prior RHI (age 67.1 ± 10.2, 48% male, 62/62 Aβ[ +]), and 59 healthy controls without RHI (HC; age 73.0 ± 6.2, 40% male, 0/59 Aβ[ +]). Patients completed neuropsychological testing (memory, executive functioning, language, visuospatial) and structural MRI (voxel-based morphometry analysis), and provided plasma samples analyzed for GFAP, NfL, IL-6, IFN-γ, and YKL-40. For cognition and plasma biomarkers, patients with RHI/TES were stratified as Aβ[ +] or Aβ[ -] and compared to each other plus the AD and HC groups (ANCOVA adjusting for age and sex). Differences with at least a medium effect size (Cohen's d > 0.50) were interpreted as potentially meaningful. RESULTS Cognitively, within the TES group, Aβ[ +] RHI/TES performed worse than Aβ[-] RHI/TES on visuospatial (p = .04, d = 0.86) and memory testing (p = .07, d = 0.74). Comparing voxel-wise brain volume, both Aβ[ +] and Aβ[ -] RHI/TES had lower medial and anterior temporal lobe volume than HC and did not significantly differ from AD. Comparing plasma biomarkers, Aβ[ +] RHI/TES had higher plasma GFAP than HC (p = .01, d = 0.88) and did not significantly differ from AD. Conversely, Aβ[ -] RHI/TES had higher NfL than HC (p = .004, d = 0.93) and higher IL-6 than all other groups (p's ≤ .004, d's > 1.0). CONCLUSIONS Presence of Alzheimer's pathology in patients with RHI/TES is associated with altered cognitive and biomarker profiles. Patients with RHI/TES and positive Aβ-PET have cognitive and plasma biomarker changes that are more like patients with AD than patients with Aβ[ -] RHI/TES. Measuring well-validated Alzheimer's biomarkers in patients with RHI/TES could improve interpretation of research findings and heighten precision in clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breton M Asken
- Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, 1Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Florida, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Jeremy A Tanner
- Department of Neurology, Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Texas Health - San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Leslie S Gaynor
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Lawren VandeVrede
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - William G Mantyh
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, PWB 12-100, 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Kaitlin B Casaletto
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Adam M Staffaroni
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Corrina Fonseca
- Department of Neuroscience, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, 132 Barker Hall MC#3190, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ranjani Shankar
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Harli Grant
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Karen Smith
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Argentina Lario Lago
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Haiyan Xu
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida, PO Box 100128, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Renaud La Joie
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Yann Cobigo
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Howie Rosen
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - David C Perry
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Julio C Rojas
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Raquel C Gardner
- Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer City of Health, Tel Aviv District, Derech Sheba 2, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Kevin K W Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Gil D Rabinovici
- Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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8
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van Amerongen S, Kamps S, Kaijser KKM, Pijnenburg YAL, Scheltens P, Teunissen CE, Barkhof F, Ossenkoppele R, Rozemuller AJM, Stern RA, Hoozemans JJM, Vijverberg EGB. Severe CTE and TDP-43 pathology in a former professional soccer player with dementia: a clinicopathological case report and review of the literature. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:77. [PMID: 37161501 PMCID: PMC10169296 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, numerous post-mortem case series have documented chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former contact-sport athletes, though reports of CTE pathology in former soccer players are scarce. This study presents a clinicopathological case of a former professional soccer player with young-onset dementia. The patient experienced early onset progressive cognitive decline and developed dementia in his mid-50 s, after playing soccer for 12 years at a professional level. While the clinical picture mimicked Alzheimer's disease, amyloid PET imaging did not provide evidence of elevated beta-amyloid plaque density. After he died in his mid-60 s, brain autopsy showed severe phosphorylated tau (p-tau) abnormalities fulfilling the neuropathological criteria for high-stage CTE, as well as astrocytic and oligodendroglial tau pathology in terms of tufted astrocytes, thorn-shaped astrocytes, and coiled bodies. Additionally, there were TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) positive cytoplasmic inclusions in the frontal lobe and hippocampus, and Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) positivity in the axons of the white matter. A systematic review of the literature revealed only 13 other soccer players with postmortem diagnosis of CTE. Our report illustrates the complex clinicopathological correlation of CTE and the need for disease-specific biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan van Amerongen
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Suzie Kamps
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kyra K M Kaijser
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- EQT Life Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rik Ossenkoppele
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Annemieke J M Rozemuller
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert A Stern
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Neurosurgery, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Everard G B Vijverberg
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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9
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) was described in 1906 as a dementing disease marked by the presence of two types of fibrillar aggregates in the brain: neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. The process of aggregation and formation of the aggregates has been a major focus of investigation ever since the discoveries that the tau protein is the predominant protein in tangles and amyloid β is the predominant protein in plaques. The idea that smaller, oligomeric species of amyloid may also be bioactive has now been clearly established. This review examines the possibility that soluble, nonfibrillar, bioactive forms of tau-the "tau we cannot see"-comprise a dominant driver of neurodegeneration in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA;
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10
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Investigating the use of plasma pTau181 in retired contact sports athletes. J Neurol 2022; 269:5582-5595. [PMID: 35751688 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11223-7] [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: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the wide range of outcomes following sport-related concussions, biomarkers are needed to detect underlying pathological changes. The objective was to analyze the use of plasma phosphorylated tau 181 (pTau181) as a non-invasive measure of underlying brain changes in a cohort of retired contact sports athletes at risk of neurodegeneration. METHODS Fifty-four retired contact sport athletes and 27 healthy controls whose blood plasma was analyzed for pTau181 were included. A portion (N = 21) of retired athletes had a 2-years follow-up visit. All participants had completed a neuropsychological battery and MRI imaging. RESULTS Plasma pTau181 was significantly higher in retired athletes compared to healthy controls (8.94 ± 5.08 pg/mL vs. 6.00 ± 2.53 pg/mL, respectively; 95% BCa CI 1.38-4.62; p = 0.02); and was significantly associated with fornix fractional anisotropy values only in the athletes group (β = - 0.002; 95% BCa CI - 0.003 to - 0.001; p = 0.002). When the retired athletes cohort was divided into high vs. normal pTau181 groups, the corpus callosum (CC) volume and white-matter integrity was significantly lower in high pTau181 compared to older healthy controls (CC volume: 1.57 ± 0.19 vs. 2.02 ± 0.32, p = 0.002; CC medial diffusivity: 0.96 ± 0.04 × 10-3 mm2/s vs. 0.90 ± 0.03 × 10-3 mm2/s, p = 0.003; CC axial diffusivity: 1.49 ± 0.04 × 10-3 mm2/s vs. 1.41 ± 0.02 × 10-3 mm2/s, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Although high plasma pTau181 levels were associated with abnormalities in CC and fornix, baseline pTau181 did not predict longitudinal changes in regional brain volumes or white-matter integrity in the athletes. pTau181 may be useful for identifying those with brain abnormalities related to repeated concussion but not for predicting progression.
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