Citation

Terry DP, Mewborn CM, Miller LS. J. Int. Neuropsychol. Soc. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-11.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Georgia,Athens, GA 30602,USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S1355617719000754

PMID

31383046

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Multiple concussions sustained in youth sport may be associated with later-life brain changes and worse cognitive outcomes. We examined the association between two or more concussions during high school football and later-life white matter (WM) microstructure (i.e., 22-47 years following football retirement) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHOD: Forty former high school football players aged 40-65 who received 2+ concussions during high school football (N = 20), or denied concussive events (N = 20) were recruited. Participants underwent neurocognitive testing and DTI scanning.

RESULTS: Groups did not statistically differ on age, education, or estimated pre-morbid intelligence. Tract-based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) correcting for Family-Wise Error (FWE)(p <.05) did not yield differences between groups at the whole-brain level. Region of interest analyses showed higher mean diffusivity (MD) in the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) in the concussed group compared to the non-concussed former players. More liberal analyses (i.e., p <.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons, ≥8 voxels) also revealed that former players endorsing 2+ concussions had higher MD in the ALIC. Analyses that covaried for age did not reveal differences at either threshold. Concussive histories were not associated with worse cognitive functioning, nor did it impact the relationship between neuropsychological scores and DTI metrics.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest only minimal neuroanatomical brain differences in former athletes many years following original concussive injuries compared to controls.

Language: en

Keywords

Cognition; Diffusion tensor imaging; Former athletes; Middle age; mTBI