Thinner Cortex in Collegiate Football Players With, but not Without, a Self-Reported History of Concussion. J Neurotrauma 2016 Feb 15;33(4):330-8
Date
06/11/2015Pubmed ID
26061068Pubmed Central ID
PMC4761822DOI
10.1089/neu.2015.3919Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84958960061 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 45 CitationsAbstract
Emerging evidence suggests that a history of sports-related concussions can lead to long-term neuroanatomical changes. The extent to which similar changes are present in young athletes is undetermined at this time. Here, we tested the hypothesis that collegiate football athletes with (n = 25) and without (n = 24) a self-reported history of concussion would have cortical thickness differences and altered white matter integrity relative to healthy controls (n = 27) in fronto-temporal regions that appear particularly susceptible to traumatic brain injury. Freesurfer software was used to estimate cortical thickness, fractional anisotropy was calculated in a priori white matter tracts, and behavior was assessed using a concussion behavioral battery. Groups did not differ in self-reported symptoms (p > 0.10) or cognitive performance (p > 0.10). Healthy controls reported significantly higher happiness levels than both football groups (all p < 0.01). Contrary to our hypothesis, no differences in fractional anisotropy were observed between our groups (p > 0.10). However, football athletes with a history of concussion had significantly thinner cortex in the left anterior cingulate cortex, orbital frontal cortex, and medial superior frontal cortex relative to healthy controls (p = 0.02, d = -0.69). Further, football athletes with a history of concussion had significantly thinner cortex in the right central sulcus and precentral gyrus relative to football athletes without a history of concussion (p = 0.03, d = -0.71). No differences were observed between football athletes without a history of concussion and healthy controls. These results suggest that previous concussions, but not necessarily football exposure, may be associated with cortical thickness differences in collegiate football athletes.
Author List
Meier TB, Bellgowan PS, Bergamino M, Ling JM, Mayer ARAuthor
Timothy B. Meier PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAthletes
Brain Concussion
Cerebral Cortex
Football
Humans
Male
Self Report
Universities
Young Adult
