Diffuse white matter tract
abnormalities in clinically normal ageing retired athletes with a history of
sports-related concussions.
abnormalities in clinically normal ageing retired athletes with a history of
sports-related concussions.
Tremblay S,
Henry LC, Bedetti C, Larson-Dupuis C, Gagnon JF, Evans AC, Théoret H, Lassonde
M, De Beaumont L. Brain. 2014 Sep 3.
[Epub ahead of print]
Henry LC, Bedetti C, Larson-Dupuis C, Gagnon JF, Evans AC, Théoret H, Lassonde
M, De Beaumont L. Brain. 2014 Sep 3.
[Epub ahead of print]
Take Home Message: Measurable declines in neurocognitive function
in older, clinically normal retired athletes may be explained by changes in
white matter integrity in those with a previous history of concussion.
in older, clinically normal retired athletes may be explained by changes in
white matter integrity in those with a previous history of concussion.
Concussions
and aging effect cognition and motor function, however, research regarding the
link between the two is limited. The
purpose of this study was to evaluate white matter changes in the
brain and their association with motor and cognitive function between older,
former athletes who have a history of sports-related concussions and controls
with no history of concussion. The
authors recruited 30 former university athletes between 51 and 74 years of age
who played hockey or American Football to participate in this study. Fifteen participants self-reported a history of 1 to 5 mild concussions during their collegiate playing career. These participants experienced their most
recent concussion between 29 and 53 years prior to the beginning of the
study. Fifteen participants similar in age,
sport participation, and level of education with no history of concussion were
selected as the control group. All participants were free of a number of
confounding factors (for example, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, daily
medications), and were otherwise considered normal healthy older adults upon
examination. Participants engaged in a variety of testing protocols, including
a battery of neuropsychological tests (general cognitive ability, attention,
verbal and visual episodic memory function, sequential motor learning, and
processing speed time trials), genotyping, and neuroimaging of the grey matter,
white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (via magnetic resonance imaging). The control group performed better on nearly
all neurocognitive tests. Furthermore,
the members of the concussion group showed greater white matter anomalies when
compared with the control group. These anomalies
were associated specifically with decreased memory function.
and aging effect cognition and motor function, however, research regarding the
link between the two is limited. The
purpose of this study was to evaluate white matter changes in the
brain and their association with motor and cognitive function between older,
former athletes who have a history of sports-related concussions and controls
with no history of concussion. The
authors recruited 30 former university athletes between 51 and 74 years of age
who played hockey or American Football to participate in this study. Fifteen participants self-reported a history of 1 to 5 mild concussions during their collegiate playing career. These participants experienced their most
recent concussion between 29 and 53 years prior to the beginning of the
study. Fifteen participants similar in age,
sport participation, and level of education with no history of concussion were
selected as the control group. All participants were free of a number of
confounding factors (for example, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, daily
medications), and were otherwise considered normal healthy older adults upon
examination. Participants engaged in a variety of testing protocols, including
a battery of neuropsychological tests (general cognitive ability, attention,
verbal and visual episodic memory function, sequential motor learning, and
processing speed time trials), genotyping, and neuroimaging of the grey matter,
white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid (via magnetic resonance imaging). The control group performed better on nearly
all neurocognitive tests. Furthermore,
the members of the concussion group showed greater white matter anomalies when
compared with the control group. These anomalies
were associated specifically with decreased memory function.
These
findings are significant because by removing other factors such as depression,
dementia, or Alzheimer’s, the results indicate that a history of sports-related
concussions leaves the brain vulnerable to the onset of measurable age-related
neurodegeneration. Specifically, this
study shows a presence of white matter abnormalities related to neurocognitive
deficits in a group of older but otherwise clinically normal participants. The authors believe the alterations seen were
consistent with aging but concussions had hastened this process. This is troubling considering the injuries
were identified as mild when they occurred and upon enrollment of the study
they were at least 29 years removed from their most recent injury. The results
of this study add to the growing literature base that highlight the impact
concussions may have on the normal aging process. The findings in the present study are
significant for the future health of our current athletes. We must continue to educate our athletes,
parents, and coaches on the risks of concussion and the need to recognize
symptoms as they present. Return-to-play
protocols must be designed not only for the current season, but also with the
lifelong health of our athletes in mind.
With the recent focus on concussion safety and potential lasting effects
of head injuries, the need for long-term research is paramount. As we improve upon tracking and reporting of
head injuries, further research studies must identify the true extent of the
long-term effects concussions. This will
help provide the best care for our athletes for both their current and lifelong
health.
findings are significant because by removing other factors such as depression,
dementia, or Alzheimer’s, the results indicate that a history of sports-related
concussions leaves the brain vulnerable to the onset of measurable age-related
neurodegeneration. Specifically, this
study shows a presence of white matter abnormalities related to neurocognitive
deficits in a group of older but otherwise clinically normal participants. The authors believe the alterations seen were
consistent with aging but concussions had hastened this process. This is troubling considering the injuries
were identified as mild when they occurred and upon enrollment of the study
they were at least 29 years removed from their most recent injury. The results
of this study add to the growing literature base that highlight the impact
concussions may have on the normal aging process. The findings in the present study are
significant for the future health of our current athletes. We must continue to educate our athletes,
parents, and coaches on the risks of concussion and the need to recognize
symptoms as they present. Return-to-play
protocols must be designed not only for the current season, but also with the
lifelong health of our athletes in mind.
With the recent focus on concussion safety and potential lasting effects
of head injuries, the need for long-term research is paramount. As we improve upon tracking and reporting of
head injuries, further research studies must identify the true extent of the
long-term effects concussions. This will
help provide the best care for our athletes for both their current and lifelong
health.
Question for Discussion: Do you think
the early recognition of concussions may help mitigate these
abnormalities?
the early recognition of concussions may help mitigate these
abnormalities?
Written by:
Adam B. Rosen, PhD, ATC and Catherine E. Lewis.
Adam B. Rosen, PhD, ATC and Catherine E. Lewis.
Reviewed by:
Jeffrey Driban
Jeffrey Driban
Related
Posts:
Posts:
Tremblay, S., Henry, L., Bedetti, C., Larson-Dupuis, C., Gagnon, J., Evans, A., Theoret, H., Lassonde, M., & De Beaumont, L. (2014). Diffuse white matter tract abnormalities in clinically normal ageing retired athletes with a history of sports-related concussions Brain DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu236
Primary issue with this study is that concussions were 'self-reported' 29-53 years prior to the commencement of the study…did they even know what a concussion was back then?
Thank you for the comment. That is a great point and definitely a limitation of this study. Most of the current literature available looking at long-term effects of concussions have to rely on self-report data due to poor tracking and documentation. Hopefully, with the availability of computer-based data bases and improved recognition we will be able to obtain more objective data.