Faculty Collaboration Database

Estimated Age of First Exposure to Contact Sports Is Not Associated with Greater Symptoms or Worse Cognitive Functioning in Male U.S. Service Academy Athletes. J Neurotrauma 2020 Jan 15;37(2):334-339

Date

08/04/2019

Pubmed ID

31375052

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7364303

DOI

10.1089/neu.2019.6571

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85077404083 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   26 Citations

Abstract

This study examined the association between estimated age of first exposure (eAFE) to contact sport participation and neurocognitive performance and symptom ratings in U.S. service academy National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes. Male cadets (N = 891), who participate in lacrosse (n = 211), wrestling (n = 170), ice hockey (n = 81), soccer (n = 119), rugby (n = 10), or non-contact sports (n = 298), completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test before the season. Generalized linear modeling was used to predict each neurocognitive domain score and total symptom severity score. Predictor variables were entered in the following order: group (contact vs. non-contact); eAFE (eAFE <12 years vs. eAFE ≥12 years); group-by-eAFE; and covariates for learning accommodation status, concussion history, and age. The group-by-eAFE interaction was not significant for any of the ImPACT composite scores (Verbal Memory, Wald χ² = 0.073, p = 0.788; Visual Memory, Wald χ² = 2.71, p = 0.100; Visual Motor Speed, Wald χ² = 0.078, p = 0.780; Reaction Time, Wald χ² = 0.003, p = 0.955; Symptom Severity, Wald χ² = 2.87, p = 0.090). Learning accommodation history was associated with lower scores on Visual Motor Speed (χ² = 6.19, p = 0.013, B = -2.97). Older age was associated with faster reaction time (χ² = 4.40, p = 0.036, B = -0.006) and lesser symptom severity (χ² = 5.55, p = 0.019, B = -0.068). No other parameters were significant. We observed no association between eAFE, contact sport participation, neurocognitive functioning, or subjectively experienced symptoms in this cohort. Earlier eAFE to contact sport participation is not related to worse neurocognitive performance or greater subjectively experienced symptoms in male U.S. service academy NCAA athletes.

Author List

Caccese JB, Iverson GL, Cameron KL, Houston MN, McGinty GT, Jackson JC, O'Donnell P, Pasquina PF, Broglio SP, McCrea M, McAllister T, Buckley TA

Author

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Age Factors
Athletes
Brain Concussion
Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction
Humans
Male
Military Personnel
Neuropsychological Tests
Sports
Young Adult