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Alosco ML, Barr WB, Banks SJ, Wethe JV, Miller JB, Pulukuri SV, Culhane J, Tripodis Y, Adler CH, Balcer LJ, Bernick C, Mariani ML, Cantu RC, Dodick DW, McClean MD, Au R, Mez J, Turner RW, Palmisano JN, Martin B, Hartlage K, Cummings JL, Reiman EM, Shenton ME, Stern RA, Chen K, Protas H, Boker C, Farrer L, Helm R, Katz DI, Kowall N, Mercier G, Otis J, Weller J, Simkin I, Andino A, Conneely S, Diamond C, Fagle T, Haller O, Hunt T, Gullotti N, Mayville B, McLaughlin K, Nanna M, Platt T, Rice F, Sestak M, Annis D, Chaisson C, Dixon DB, Finney C, Gallagher K, Lu J, Ojo E, Pine B, Ramachandran J, Bouix S, Fitzsimmons J, Lin AP, Koerte IK, Pasternak O, Arciniega H, Billah T, Bonke E, Breedlove K, Coello E, Coleman MJ, Jung L, Liao H, Loy M, Rizzoni E, Schultz V, Silva A, Vessey B, Wiegand TLT, Ritter A, Sabbagh M, de la Cruz R, Durant J, Golceker M, Harmon N, Kaylegian K, Long R, Nance C, Sandoval P, Marek KL, Serrano A, Geda Y, Falk B, Duffy A, Howard M, Montague M, Osgood T, Babcock D, Bellgowan P, Goldberg J, Wisniewski T, Kirov I, Lui Y, Marmar C, Hasanaj L, Serrano L, Al-Kharafi A, George A, Martin S, Riley E, Runge W, Peskind ER, Colasurdo E, Marcus DS, Gurney J, Greenwald R, Johnson KA. Neuropsychological test performance of former American football players. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:1. [PMID: 36597138 PMCID: PMC9808953 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01147-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patterns of cognitive impairment in former American football players are uncertain because objective neuropsychological data are lacking. This study characterized the neuropsychological test performance of former college and professional football players. METHODS One hundred seventy male former football players (n=111 professional, n=59 college; 45-74 years) completed a neuropsychological test battery. Raw scores were converted to T-scores using age, sex, and education-adjusted normative data. A T-score ≤ 35 defined impairment. A domain was impaired if 2+ scores fell in the impaired range except for the language and visuospatial domains due to the limited number of tests. RESULTS Most football players had subjective cognitive concerns. On testing, rates of impairments were greatest for memory (21.2% two tests impaired), especially for recall of unstructured (44.7%) versus structured verbal stimuli (18.8%); 51.8% had one test impaired. 7.1% evidenced impaired executive functions; however, 20.6% had impaired Trail Making Test B. 12.1% evidenced impairments in the attention, visual scanning, and psychomotor speed domain with frequent impairments on Trail Making Test A (18.8%). Other common impairments were on measures of language (i.e., Multilingual Naming Test [21.2%], Animal Fluency [17.1%]) and working memory (Number Span Backward [14.7%]). Impairments on our tasks of visuospatial functions were infrequent. CONCLUSIONS In this sample of former football players (most of whom had subjective cognitive concerns), there were diffuse impairments on neuropsychological testing with verbal memory being the most frequently impaired domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Alosco
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - William B. Barr
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Sarah J. Banks
- grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, CA USA ,grid.266100.30000 0001 2107 4242Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Jennifer V. Wethe
- grid.417468.80000 0000 8875 6339Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ USA
| | - Justin B. Miller
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV USA
| | - Surya Vamsi Pulukuri
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Julia Culhane
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Charles H. Adler
- grid.417468.80000 0000 8875 6339Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ USA
| | - Laura J. Balcer
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Charles Bernick
- grid.239578.20000 0001 0675 4725Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Megan L. Mariani
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Robert C. Cantu
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - David W. Dodick
- grid.417468.80000 0000 8875 6339Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ USA
| | - Michael D. McClean
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Rhoda Au
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.510954.c0000 0004 0444 3861Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.510954.c0000 0004 0444 3861Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA USA
| | - Robert W. Turner
- grid.253615.60000 0004 1936 9510Department of Clinical Research & Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joseph N. Palmisano
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Brett Martin
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Kaitlin Hartlage
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (BEDAC), Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Cummings
- grid.272362.00000 0001 0806 6926Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV USA
| | - Eric M. Reiman
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Translational Genomics Research Institute, and Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, Phoenix, AZ USA
| | - Martha E. Shenton
- grid.62560.370000 0004 0378 8294Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA
| | - Robert A. Stern
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Robinson Building, Suite B7800, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
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Alosco ML, Culhane J, Mez J. Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Targets for the Academic Memory Disorders Clinic. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:772-791. [PMID: 33847906 PMCID: PMC8423967 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01028-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with exposure to repetitive head impacts, such as those from contact sports. The pathognomonic lesion for CTE is the perivascular accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau in neurons and other cell process at the depths of sulci. CTE cannot be diagnosed during life at this time, limiting research on risk factors, mechanisms, epidemiology, and treatment. There is an urgent need for in vivo biomarkers that can accurately detect CTE and differentiate it from other neurological disorders. Neuroimaging is an integral component of the clinical evaluation of neurodegenerative diseases and will likely aid in diagnosing CTE during life. In this qualitative review, we present the current evidence on neuroimaging biomarkers for CTE with a focus on molecular, structural, and functional modalities routinely used as part of a dementia evaluation. Supporting imaging-pathological correlation studies are also presented. We targeted neuroimaging studies of living participants at high risk for CTE (e.g., aging former elite American football players, fighters). We conclude that an optimal tau PET radiotracer with high affinity for the 3R/4R neurofibrillary tangles in CTE has not yet been identified. Amyloid PET scans have tended to be negative. Converging structural and functional imaging evidence together with neuropathological evidence show frontotemporal and medial temporal lobe neurodegeneration, and increased likelihood for a cavum septum pellucidum. The literature offers promising neuroimaging biomarker targets of CTE, but it is limited by cross-sectional studies of small samples where the presence of underlying CTE is unknown. Imaging-pathological correlation studies will be important for the development and validation of neuroimaging biomarkers of CTE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Alosco
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Suite B7800, MA, 02118, Boston, USA.
| | - Julia Culhane
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Suite B7800, MA, 02118, Boston, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston University CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Suite B7800, MA, 02118, Boston, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, MA, Boston, USA
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O’Campo PJ, Burke JG, Holzman C, Eyster J, Laria B, Kaufman J, Messer L, Culhane J, Ilo I. 534: Neighborhood Deprivation and Preterm Birth: Multi-Level Modeling Results from Four Us States. Am J Epidemiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1093/aje/161.supplement_1.s134a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P J O’Campo
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - J G Burke
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - C Holzman
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - J Eyster
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - B Laria
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - J Kaufman
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - L Messer
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - J Culhane
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
| | - I Ilo
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT Canada
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