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Paper	Paper Session 19 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 09:00 am - 10:30 am Room: West Side Ballroom - Salon 4 Paper Session 19: Other Dementias Final Abstract #3 Long-Term Health Outcomes of Former College Athletes from Kent State University Jenna Groh, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States Eukyung Yhang, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States Yorghos Tripodis, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States Joseph Palmisano, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States Brett Martin, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States Robert Stern, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States Erin Burke, Kent State University, Kent, United States Urja Bhatia, Kent State University, Kent, United States Jesse Mez, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States John Gunstad, Kent State University, Kent, United States Michael Alosco, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States Category: Dementia (Non-AD) Keyword 1: sports-related neuropsychology Keyword 2: cognitive functioning Keyword 3: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury Objective: Former professional contact and collision sport (CCS) athletes, particularly American football players, are at risk for later-life neurological disorders and chronic conditions. Little is known about health outcomes of amateur athletes. We examined self-reported health conditions among former Kent State University (KSU) CCS athletes and non-contact and collision sport (non-CCS) athletes. Participants and Methods: A 60-question survey of neurological, cardiovascular, psychiatric diagnoses and substance use was sent to 8115 former KSU athletes between October 2021 to January 2022. Athletes were grouped into CCS (American football, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse) and non-CCS. Binary logistic regression analyses tested the association between playing CCS at KSU and self-reported survey outcomes, controlling for age and sex. As a sensitivity analysis, we ran binary logistic regression models to test the association between years of football play and all health outcomes. Results: 502 (6.2%) participants completed the survey of which 463 were usable responses: 160 athletes played CCS (mean age: 59.2, SD = 16.0, 62.5% reported American football as their primary sport) and 303 athletes played non-CCS (mean age: 54.0, SD=16.9, 20.1% reported track and field as their primary sport). CCS were older (P <0.01) and predominately male (P <0.0001). All analyses were adjusted for age and sex. CCS athletes had increased odds of reported cognitive complaints including memory (OR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.47, 4.08], P_adj < 0.01), attention/concentration (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.31, 3.37], P_adj = 0.01), problem solving/multi-tasking (OR = 2.46, 95% CI [1.11, 5.68], P_adj = 0.05), and language (OR = 2.32, 95% CI [1.24, 4.48], P_adj = 0.02). Participation in CCS was also associated with increased odds of reported neuropsychiatric symptoms including anxiety (OR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.09, 3.29], P_adj = 0.04), impulsivity (OR = 2.81, 95% CI [1.28, 6.43], P_adj = 0.02), short-fuse/rage/explosivity (OR = 4.78, 95% CI [2.49, 9.61], P_adj <0.001), and violence/aggression (OR = 4.80, 95% CI [1.72, 16.31], P_adj = 0.02). In addition, CCS athletes were at increased odds for reported sleep apnea diagnoses compared with the non-CCS athletes (OR = 2.18, CI [1.24, 3.90], P_adj = 0.02). There were no group differences in cardiovascular and physical health outcomes. Post-hoc analyses revealed years of football play was significantly associated cognitive complaints of memory (OR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.05, 1.17], P_adj < 0.001), attention/concentration (OR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02, 1.14], P_adj = 0.01), problem solving (OR = 1.12, 95% CI [1.03, 1.21], P_adj = 0.01), language (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.02, 1.17], P_adj = 0.01). Years of football play was also associated with increased odds of impulsivity (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.01, 1.18], P_adj = 0.03), short fuse(OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.09, 1.23], P_adj < 0.0001), violence/aggression (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.05, 1.26], P_adj < 0.01) but not anxiety (OR = 0.05, 95% CI [1.05, 1.26], P_adj = 0.60). Conclusions: Former KSU CCS athletes reported greater cognitive, mood, and behavior complaints and had higher rates of sleep apnea. Millions play college contact sports each year, thus research on chronic health outcomes is a high priority.

Paper

02/17/2024
09:00 am - 10:30 am
Room: West Side Ballroom - Salon 4

Paper Session 19: Other Dementias

Final Abstract #3

Long-Term Health Outcomes of Former College Athletes from Kent State University

Jenna Groh, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Eukyung Yhang, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States
Yorghos Tripodis, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States
Joseph Palmisano, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States
Brett Martin, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, United States
Robert Stern, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Erin Burke, Kent State University, Kent, United States
Urja Bhatia, Kent State University, Kent, United States
Jesse Mez, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
John Gunstad, Kent State University, Kent, United States
Michael Alosco, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States

Category: Dementia (Non-AD)

Keyword 1: sports-related neuropsychology
Keyword 2: cognitive functioning
Keyword 3: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury

Objective:

Former professional contact and collision sport (CCS) athletes, particularly American football players, are at risk for later-life neurological disorders and chronic conditions. Little is known about health outcomes of amateur athletes. We examined self-reported health conditions among former Kent State University (KSU) CCS athletes and non-contact and collision sport (non-CCS) athletes.

Participants and Methods:

A 60-question survey of neurological, cardiovascular, psychiatric diagnoses and substance use was sent to 8115 former KSU athletes between October 2021 to January 2022. Athletes were grouped into CCS (American football, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse) and non-CCS. Binary logistic regression analyses tested the association between playing CCS at KSU and self-reported survey outcomes, controlling for age and sex. As a sensitivity analysis, we ran binary logistic regression models to test the association between years of football play and all health outcomes.

Results:

502 (6.2%) participants completed the survey of which 463 were usable responses: 160 athletes played CCS (mean age: 59.2, SD = 16.0, 62.5% reported American football as their primary sport) and 303 athletes played non-CCS (mean age: 54.0, SD=16.9, 20.1% reported track and field as their primary sport). CCS were older (P <0.01) and predominately male (P <0.0001). All analyses were adjusted for age and sex.

CCS athletes had increased odds of reported cognitive complaints including memory (OR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.47, 4.08], P_adj < 0.01), attention/concentration (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.31, 3.37], P_adj = 0.01), problem solving/multi-tasking (OR = 2.46, 95% CI [1.11, 5.68], P_adj = 0.05), and language (OR = 2.32, 95% CI [1.24, 4.48], P_adj = 0.02). Participation in CCS was also associated with increased odds of reported neuropsychiatric symptoms including anxiety (OR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.09, 3.29], P_adj = 0.04), impulsivity (OR = 2.81, 95% CI [1.28, 6.43], P_adj = 0.02), short-fuse/rage/explosivity (OR = 4.78, 95% CI [2.49, 9.61], P_adj <0.001), and violence/aggression (OR = 4.80, 95% CI [1.72, 16.31], P_adj = 0.02). In addition, CCS athletes were at increased odds for reported sleep apnea diagnoses compared with the non-CCS athletes (OR = 2.18, CI [1.24, 3.90], P_adj = 0.02). There were no group differences in cardiovascular and physical health outcomes.

Post-hoc analyses revealed years of football play was significantly associated cognitive complaints of memory (OR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.05, 1.17], P_adj < 0.001), attention/concentration (OR = 1.08, 95% CI [1.02, 1.14], P_adj = 0.01), problem solving (OR = 1.12, 95% CI [1.03, 1.21], P_adj = 0.01), language (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.02, 1.17], P_adj = 0.01). Years of football play was also associated with increased odds of impulsivity (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.01, 1.18], P_adj = 0.03), short fuse(OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.09, 1.23], P_adj < 0.0001), violence/aggression (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.05, 1.26], P_adj < 0.01) but not anxiety (OR = 0.05, 95% CI [1.05, 1.26], P_adj = 0.60).

Conclusions:

Former KSU CCS athletes reported greater cognitive, mood, and behavior complaints and had higher rates of sleep apnea. Millions play college contact sports each year, thus research on chronic health outcomes is a high priority.